Height
6'9"
Weight
228 lbs
Age
29
College
Kansas State
Experience
6 yrs
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsD
| Year | Team | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 339 | 5.8 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 43.2% | 36.6% | 68.4% |
| 2025-26 | | 57 | 5.8 | 4.2 | 1.5 |
Recent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3PT | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 4/10 | @ ATL | L 102-124 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-1 | 1-1 | -18 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$6.6M
Guaranteed
$6.6M
AAV
$6.6M/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
Dean Wade's $6.6M AAV deal earns a D CVI, representing a clear overpay for a 7-year veteran delivering replacement-level production. His modest 5.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.5 APG across 57 games this season hardly justifies starter money, especially when durability concerns have become a recurring theme with ankle injuries sidelining him during critical stretches. For a 29-year-old power forward at this salary tier, NBA teams typically expect above-average production and reliable availability — Wade is providing neither. The "Dean Wade problem" narrative that has taken hold in Cleveland perfectly captures how his contract has become a roster construction liability, with fans and media openly questioning whether he belongs in the rotation of a championship-contending team. His combination of inconsistent performance, injury troubles, and starter-level compensation creates exactly the type of dead-money situation that hamstrings competitive rosters. The one-year term provides some relief from a cap flexibility standpoint, but Cleveland is essentially paying premium dollars for a player whose value proposition has deteriorated to the point where he's viewed more as a liability than a contributing piece.
Performance Analysis
Dean Wade earns a D Performance grade, indicating below-average production relative to other NBA power forwards this season. Through 339 games, Dean is contributing 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in his role. Dean's strongest area is FG% at 43.2, which compares favorably to the power forward median of 46.0. The biggest area for growth is APG at 1.5 (power forward median: 4.0). Among 84 NBA power forwards graded this season, Dean ranks 74th.
Transaction History
No transactions found for this player.
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