Should Dean Wade start at small forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Should Dean Wade be in consideration to start with the Cleveland Cavaliers?

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a pretty loaded roster this season. While the team isn’t exactly rocking with the best crop of small forwards in the world, they do have enough at the position that the team could rely on going into the season.

Yet, our sister site at King James Gospel has pushed an interesting theory out there, one that says Dean Wade would make the most sense to start at small forward. The small forward or three-position is one where you want a longer player, who can shoot and play defense while providing a bit on the rebounding end. They’re not generally a ball-handler, nor are they play-makers on their own.

This is the general view on them, not the universal rule. There are always examples to the contrary but if you can find a guy who can score when the ball is passed to him and can play solid defense, that’s good enough. So, in my opinion, Lauri Markkanen is good enough.

Any trade that I’ve pitched has always been to improve the two-guard aka the shooting guard. Why? I feel the Cavs have depth at small forward. Yet, King James Gospel’s Josh Cornelissen pitches Wade as the guy to start.

He cites Wade’s ability to play defense, shoot threes, and his fit with Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland. So, should Wade replace Markknaen?

Dean Wade should not replace Lauri Markkanen in the Cavs’ starting rotation

There’s a lot of selective evidence in the above. Firstly, yes, Wade is better defensively than Markkanen, but only by so much. Markkanen had his best defensive year in his career and is only getting better in this defense. Secondly, looking at these offensive outputs, Markkanen is historically a better shooter than Wade from three, but not only that is a better pure scorer than Wade.

Markkanen is a better shot, which is why he gets the opportunities, but Markkanen is also better at shot-blocking and passing while committing fewer fouls. Markkanen’s 30 minutes of play sees him commit two per game, while Wade’s 19 minutes per game sees him commit 1.7.

Wade is a good asset, but he’s slow-footed and limited offensively. That doesn’t mean getting rid of him, by any means, his 20 minutes per game is about where he should be. He’s not a naturally efficient offensive player as Markkanen and trying to play him 30 minutes next to Isaac Okoro will hurt the offense.

Another point of emphasis, the article states that Wade is in the top line the Cavs rolled out according to Cleaning the Glass but what the author fails to point out is that the efficiency of that lineup is because of Garland, Allen, and Mobley, not because of Wade.

The team also scores more with Markkanen on the court, regardless of if he’s playing with Collin Sexton or Lamar Stevens. Not only that, but Wade’s top line is also the worst free-throw shooting on the team.

Free throws make or break games.

Cornelissen made valid points for why Wade should get action in 2022-2023, but he failed to paint the entire picture. The Cavs are defensively better with Wade alongside Mobley, Allen, and Isaac Okoro. Obviously. They’re also much worse offensively with that four-some as well.

Markkanen provides an excellent mark from the free-throw line and a more reliable three-point shot. Plus, he’s a valuable and solid defender in his own right. You give up too much offensively by taking him out and putting Wade in.

It’s just that simple.