Cavs shouldn’t think twice about starting Dean Wade
Wade is the clear and obvious choice for the small-forward position
It’s easy to forget that starting Lauri Markkanen alongside two centers wasn’t a popular or conventional move in 2021. The rest of the league was going smaller while the Cleveland Cavaliers went bigger. This change was supposed to provide more space for Darius Garland and Collin Sexton. While that happened, it also made the Cavs one of the most potent defenses in the league.
Cleveland’s defense was completely dominant when Markkanen played with the other two bigs. They posted a 103.2 defensive rating (97th percentile) when all three shared the floor which led to outscoring their opponent by 7.4 points per 100 possessions (88th percentile).
The Cavs don’t have Markkanen. But they do have a better defensive version of that archetype in Dean Wade. The numbers from the last three seasons prove this.
Wade was the stand-in for Markkanen in 2021-22 when Markkanen was out. The defense was slightly better as they registered a 102.8 defensive rating (98th percentile) when he shared the floor with Allen and Mobley. This carried over into the ensuing two seasons as the Cavs’ defense was in the 100th percentile when all three were on the floor together. The time this trio spent on the court has inexplicably decreased each season.
It’s not difficult to see why this has consistently led to an outstanding defense. Wade, at 6’9”, is one of the most versatile defenders in the league. That versatility works well when paired alongside Mobley and Allen.
Wade combines his size, strength, and lateral quickness with great defensive awareness to be one of the best defenders in the entire league. This shows through his impressive advanced numbers. Wade’s versatility also allows the Cavs to switch three through five without any issues, which isn’t something they can do with anyone else at small forward.
The other side of the ball will always be the question mark for Wade. He hasn’t been better than the third percentile in offensive usage in the past three seasons. Wade can disappear for stretches where he’s completely uninvolved in the offensive attack. While you can survive those runs in bench units, that can’t happen when you’re playing heavy minutes with four other starters or closing games.
There’s no reason why this should be the case. Wade is a career 37.1% three-point shooter who is also a good rim finisher. His hesitancy to find his own offense, even when the defense is giving him open looks, is what has kept him from being as useful as his skills would make you believe he should be. It’s why Wade’s teammates and the coaching staff have been consistently telling him to be more aggressive.
That said, Wade is still the Cavs’ best starting option alongside the core four even if his offense doesn’t improve. His defensive abilities are head-and-shoulders above Markkanen’s who proved to be a perfect fit with the frontcourt. This version of the Cavs also has Donovan Mitchell who should help alleviate offensive concerns in a way the 2021-22 team couldn’t.
Kenny Atkinson pointed out at practice Monday that starting Wade could have unintended downstream effects on the rest of the rotation.
“Because if you start Dean, then you have to think about what’s after that,” Atkinson said. “What do those secondary lineups look like? ... Starting him takes away some options.”
That shouldn’t be a concern in this situation. While it’s fair to wonder about the downstream effects of starting Wade, this overlooks the upside of potentially experimenting with a five-man unit that past lineup data suggests should work. If it does work, the Cavs would have time to find workable bench combinations or acquire better-fitting reserves before the deadline in February.
Max Strus’s injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Cavs if he can return to the court before Christmas. Replacing Strus with Wade in a starting unit that lacked an identity season could be exactly what the Cavs needed to take the next step forward. Their lackluster starting lineup is one of the main things keeping them from the championship contender tier.
The Cavs have been making compromises with their lineup and roster for the past several seasons. They’ve consistently taken half-measures to cover up holes or deficiencies elsewhere. Their talent is what has allowed them to be as successful as they have been in the regular season despite their poor fit.
Going all in with the biggest front line in basketball would be a welcomed departure from that. Instead of trying to cover up a weakness, starting Wade would be doubling down on a strength. That is exactly what this team needs.