Dean Wade should be a big piece of the Cleveland Cavaliers future

The Cleveland Cavaliers have made Dean Wade a vital piece of the future.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have made a decision that will keep Dean Wade around for the foreseeable future, giving the big man a new three-year, $18.5 million contract. The young big-man is one of the Cavs three best defensive big men, and he has developed a three-point shot that is fairly reliable.

He’s averaged 57 games over the last two years for the Cavs, usually topping out at around 20 minutes per game. Over that two-year span, he’s averaged 5.6 points, 3.15 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. He’s become one of the team’s best low-post defenders and has gotten so good, he’s even been the guy tapped to guard the likes of Kevin Durant.

Wade’s deal will see him make $16.5 million over the next few years, and he can earn another $2 million in incentives. he was in the last year of his deal, and this extension keeps him in Cleveland for at least the next three years.

Dean Wade should have a bigger role now that Lauri Markkanen is gone

Losing Lauri Markkanen wasn’t easy for the Cavs to swallow. He was a versatile big-man, who could play the three and four while providing solid three-point shooting. Not having him on the roster could limit what the Cavs like to do on both offense and defense, as Markkanen brought size and mobility.

Wade isn’t as mobile as Markkanen, but Wade has proven to be able to do the same things Markkanen once did. He’s not as laterally quick as Markkanen, maybe the biggest difference between the two, but he’s more aggressive and in your face.

He’s also good at setting his hips before the opposing player moves, angling the offender into less-than-optimal areas of the court. His ability to cut off lanes before they materialize has made him someone the Cavs can’t risk losing.

Like with Isaac Okoro, Wade may not be as valuable unless he develops a more consistent shot. He hasn’t been a bad three-point shooter in the NBA, but his number isn’t called that often for a reason. If Wade can develop a more consistent shot, he may just earn far more minutes than anyone thought possible.