Could the Nets take a chance in trading for Cavaliers’ Dean Wade?

The Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers have been linked in trade rumors throughout this offseason. Could Dean Wade be a Net next season?

The Brooklyn Nets have decided that they will find their next superstar in the Draft as they are embarking on their latest rebuild in the franchise’s history. At this point in the organization, Brooklyn is concerned with player development and finding diamonds in the rough, a description that one player could fit for them.

When Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report recently wrote that forward Dean Wade is the best kept secret for the Cleveland Cavaliers, NetsDaily pointed out that the Nets have inquired about him multiple times. Those reports have mostly come out from the media that covers Cleveland, specifically Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

Fedor said on the “Wine and Gold” podcast earlier this year that “A source tells me that the Brooklyn Nets have expressed interest in Dean Wade in the past” when discussing Wade. Wade is one of the players that has come off the bench for the Cavaliers over the past few seasons, but with the team looking for more wing depth, it’s possible that Wade could be one of the players that sees himself out of the rotation or on a different team for next season.

With the Cavaliers reportedly having interest in Brooklyn forwards Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, the Nets may find themselves in a position to get a player in Wade that could be one of those players that can shine in an elevated role. However, considering that the Nets and Cavaliers haven’t been able to come close to terms on a trade that would involve forward Isaac Okoro and Finney-Smith, it’s possible that Brooklyn doesn’t get Wade either.

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Travis Kelce recruited Dean Wade to play for the Chiefs after a massive win for the Cavaliers

Travis Kelce was VERY impressed with Cavaliers big man Dean Wade.

While NFL brothers Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce were honored at the Cleveland Cavaliers game, big man Dean Wade was the star of the show.

Wade is mostly regarded as a low-usage role player for Cleveland but he had a breakout performance during a win over Boston on Tuesday night. The big personally outscored the Celtics, 20-17, during the fourth quarter.

The former Kansas State standout was able to accomplish this, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field during that stretch. He was able to help erase a 22-point that Boston held with only nine minutes remaining in the game.

All the while, Travis and Jason Kelce were cheering him on. In the clip above, for example, you can see Travis losing his mind about Wade’s unreal performance.

You can also watch Travis celebrate with Wade after the game:

This was an especially important moment for Wade, who  is a “huge” fan of the Chiefs.

After the game, he said it was “pretty cool” to have that performance in front of the Kansas City tight end.

The big man also said that Kelce noticed Wade had “good hands” and that if basketball doesn’t work out for him, he could have a future as a backup tight end.

Fortunately, it seems that Wade’s NBA career is going well. But to get that sort of praise from one of the NFL’s best tight ends to ever play must have felt really good.

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Cavaliers sign rookie Dean Wade to a multi-year NBA contract

The undrafted Wade averaged 14.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 30 games played with the Canton Charge this season.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly converted the two-way contract of rookie Dean Wade to a multi-year NBA deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Wade, who went undrafted out of Kansas State, signed a two-way contract with the Cavaliers just prior to Summer League last year. In five Summer League games with the Cavaliers, Wade averaged seven points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

Wade spent the majority of this season in the G League with the Canton Charge. He posted 14.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 30 games played with the Charge. In addition, he logged 12 appearances with the Cavaliers this season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.6 rebounds.

Wade emerged as a strong defensive rebounder and 3-point shooter this season, converting 39.9% of his 4.6 attempts per game with the Charge. By converting his contract, the Cavaliers certainly believe Wade is worth developing and is someone that can possibly turn into a consistent role player in the future.

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