Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade will be out for the remainder of their First Round series against the Orlando Magic, the team has announced.
Wade has been out since Mar. 13 with a right knee sprain. Signed to three-year, $18.5 million contract last offseason, he was having a career year up until his injury.
Dean Wade Ruled Out for Remainder of Magic Series
As a role player, Wade’s numbers may not be turning heads.
The five-year pro is averaging 5.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in 20.5 minutes per. Even when converting his averages to their per 36 counterparts (9.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per 36 minutes), his impact can be overlooked or undervalued. However, Wade is also making 39.1 percent of his 3s, his highest percentage since going 2-4 from deep in his rookie season.
Furthermore, Wade’s impact —like most players— extends beyond the box score. At 6-foot-9 and 228 pounds, he has just enough size to man three positions for the Cavs. While primarily slotted at small forward, he’s shown the toughness and strength necessary to guard big men.
An underrated athlete, Wade’s both springy enough to be a shot-blocker and agile enough to guard in space. As a result, he’s their best 3-and-D player in the frontcourt.
Aside from the film, his on-off numbers may best explain his two-way impact.
When Wade is on the court, the Cavs have outscored opponents by +10.1 points per 100 possessions. Not only does that rank first on the team but it’s significantly higher than even Donovan Mitchell’s. To that point, Cleveland outscoring opponents by +7.2 points per 100 possessions when Mitchell’s on the court.
New Age advanced stats also paint a favorable picture of Wade, with the Kansas native ranking first among all wing stoppers in D-LEBRON. Beating out a field that includes Detroit Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson, New Orleans Pelicans wing Herb Jones, and Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler —all lockdown defenders —Wade may be the most underrated perimeter defender in the NBA.
The top 10 Wing Stoppers in D-LEBRON
1. Dean Wade
2. Ausar Thompson
3. Josh Hart
4. Herbert Jones
5. Keegan Murray
6. Jimmy Butler
7. Aaron Gordon
8. Jalen Johnson
9. Jrue Holiday
10. S. BarnesLEBRON explainer⬇️
Explore the data for only $5 a month!https://t.co/GsCrls2ceC pic.twitter.com/KYb4gOgwGu
— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) April 4, 2024
Time’s of the Essence
With the Cavs up 2-0 against the Magic, they’re in the driver’s seat.
However, Orlando won 47 games last season for a reason. Not to mention, the Magic were 2-2 against Cleveland in the regular season series. That said, the job isn’t over, magnifying Wade’s continued absence.
If the Cavs defeat the Magic in the First Round, they’ll face either the top-seeded Boston Celtics or Miami Heat next. Having as many wing defenders as possible will certainly aid them against the Celtics, who boast a star-studded roster. The Heat can pose problems for Cleveland too, as youngsters Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic have become x-factors on the perimeter.
