Dean Wade: The Cavs secret weapon
Wade is poised for a breakout season.
Dean Wade is the second-best defender on the Cleveland Cavaliers behind only Evan Mobley and it’s not even close. At first glance, that statement seems ridiculous. Jarrett Allen and Isaac Okoro are incredible defenders and this isn’t a slight at either. Wade is just that good. His issues come entirely on the offensive side of the ball. The stats bear both of these things out.
The Cavs were the definition of an average team last season when Wade wasn’t on the floor. They outscored opponents by 0.5 points per 100 possessions (55th percentile) while being middle of the road on both offense (115.8 offensive rating, 55th percentile) and defense (115.3 defensive rating, 52nd percentile). Cleveland transformed into an elite team whenever Wade was playing. Those groups outscored opponents by 7.2 points (85th percentile) with a 114 offensive rating (42nd percentile) and a 106.8 defensive rating (98th percentile). The difference was entirely because of Wade’s defense.
The advanced defensive stats point to Wade being one of the best defenders in the league. BBall Index’s D-LeBron stat has Wade as the third-best wing stopper (1.47). Dunks & Threes’ defensive estimated plus/minus puts Wade in the 96th percentile (+2.4). BBall Index graded Wade an A for perimeter isolation defense last season. And opponent’s effective field goal percentage dropped by 3.8% last season when Wade is on the floor (94th percentile). These are elite defensive numbers.
The eye test confirms this. Wade’s understanding of the game combined with his athleticism, strength, and versatility allows him to be so impactful.
Saying someone is a smart defender is cliche and often overused. There’s nothing cliche about saying Wade is that. This play from a midseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers is a good representation of how he’s a step ahead.
Let’s break down what exactly Wade did that was so impressive. First, Kawhi Leonard had the ball deep in the paint but was walled off. Caris LeVert came down to help off of Russell Westbrook. Wade stayed with Norman Powell, a 54.3% corner three-point shooter (99th percentile), which cut off the pass to the corner.
Wade recognized that the ball was going to end up back up top with Westbrook and was heading there before Leonard even released the ball. Wade only made the move after he knew that he effectively denied the pass to the weakside corner.
Everyone knows Westbrook isn’t a good three-point shooter. Staying with Powell would’ve been understandable and what many defenders would’ve done. This, however, would’ve given up an open three-pointer or allowed Westbrook to attack with a full head of steam.
Wade instead decided to take all of those options away. He closed out quickly but stayed in control. Most importantly, he was angled in a way that didn’t allow Westbrook to get the pass over to Powell. He was essentially covering two guys in the screenshot below.
Westbrook attacked the closeout as the shot and pass were taken away. Wade stayed on his hip while continuing to eliminate the pass to one of the best corner shooters with his active left hand. All the while, he led Westbrook to the rim where Mobley was eagerly awaiting his arrival.
Plays like this don’t show up on the stat sheet and don’t jump off the screen like an impressive block or steal does. But it affects the game all the same.
Wade is also an incredible help defender who has a knack for committing at the right moment, but doing so in a way that allows him to recover to his assignment if needed. This is where his defensive instincts show up most.
His IQ combined with his athleticism and frame makes him a difference-maker. He’s shown that he can consistently stay with some of the league’s best perimeter players. Wade has exceptional lateral quickness and body control to go along with a 6’10” wingspan.
Wade has also shown that he can hold his own in the post if he gets switched onto a center or if he’s forced to play that position because of injuries elsewhere like he had to do against the Memphis Grizzlies last February. This is where his strength comes into play. Neither Joel Embiid or Jaren Jackson Jr. were able to move Wade off of his spot in the clip below.
He is able to do this while staying in position to allow his team to grab defensive rebounds. The Cavs have consistently rebounded better with Wade on the floor despite his rebounding numbers not being impressive (four per game last season).
The offensive side of the court is where Wade has struggled. He shot a career-best 39.1% from three last season, but it didn’t translate to the overall offense being better. Wade’s low shot volume is the reason why that’s the case. He hasn’t been higher than the third percentile in usage the past three seasons which isn’t going to cut it offensively. Even a good shooter like Wade can’t provide space for his teammates if he isn’t willing to shoot.
We know Wade has the offensive talent. His 20-point fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics showed that. The Cavs hope that playing in a different offensive system under Kenny Atkinson allows him to showcase those skills more consistently than he has.
Wade’s availability has also been a persistent issue. He hasn’t appeared in over 60 games once in his five-year career. Wade missed most of last season after the All-Star break and didn’t see any playoff action until Game 4 against Boston.
The Cavs desperately need Wade’s positional versatility. He’s one of the best defenders in the league and is a starting-caliber player if he can find a way to become more relevant offensively and stay on the court. He’s poised for a breakout season if both of those things happen.