With the official start of NBA free agency rapidly approaching, we\u2019re quickly going to see more buzz of who the Sixers could look to sign. Now, we can add Dean Wade to the mix.<\/p>\n
Right away, the Sixers now have a connection to Wade with the time Mike Gansey spent in the Cavaliers\u2019 front office. In his first media availability session after joining the Sixers, Gansey even mentioned Wade when talking about finding diamonds in the rough for the Cavs. Gansey\u2019s familiarity and respect for Wade\u2019s skillset could spark more interest in reuniting with him again through free agency this summer, but Wade likely won\u2019t come cheap.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-9 forward has spent the first seven years of his career with the Cavs, becoming a staple in their rotation since his second year. In 2025-26 in 22.3 minutes per game, he averaged 5.8 points (58.0 percent true shooting and 36.2 percent from three), 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks. He\u2019s hardly a game-changer on offense, with little to offer on the ball and his fairly low aggression\/shot volume can be a hindrance. However, he is reliable when it comes to making sharp extra passes and keeping the ball moving. He\u2019s still a decent shooter as well with a 36.7 percent three-point stroke on 3.3 attempts per game (5.9 attempts per 36 minutes) over the last six seasons.<\/p>\n
Wade shines at the other end of the floor, though, as a rock-solid defender. He has great size and length to handle tough forward assignments, pretty good lateral quickness and agility to shift around the perimeter and cover his fair share of guards, and solid rebounding. Wade\u2019s versatility and size at that end of the floor is clearly something the Sixers could use more of.<\/p>\n
But again, all that may come at a price that exceeds the Sixers\u2019 budget. Or at least what they can spend without losing out on other talent.<\/p>\n