There's no question that the Cleveland Cavaliers have needed Dean Wade for his prowess in guarding top wing players and being a ball mover. Their net rating was much better when he was on the floor, mostly due to the size he brings to the table. He is one of the team's best rebounders, and when he's taking shots, he provides spacing.

As has been the case for multiple years, he was at his best with Cleveland's big men at the same time. When Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen shared the floor, opponents had a hard time getting any offensive momentum going. Conversely, the Cavs' attack was a mixed bag because of the three's inconsistencies as scorers.

Wade is a low-usage, 6-foot-9 forward who still doesn't take enough shots. For all the good that he does, eventually, teams focus their defensive scheme on more threatening offensive engines like Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and the two seven-footers.

Swing passes and closeout-drive feeds shift people, but opponents adjust as games go on, which makes it difficult to put Wade out there for an extended run. It should also be noted that he has an injury history, which keeps the coaching staff cautious about his playing time.

In the postseason, Wade started 14 of 18 games for the Cavs. Though he shot the ball well, crashed the glass, and did a solid job on defense, he still wasn't aggressive enough with his chances.

REGULAR SEASON STATS

5.8 POINTS | 4.2 REBOUNDS | 1.5 ASSISTS | 43.9% FG | 36.2% 3PT | 71.1% FT

PLAYOFF STATS

4.4 POINTS | 3.9 REBOUNDS | 0.8 ASSISTS | 46.2% FG | 37.5% 3PT | 33.3% FT

Every team needs a player who doesn't need the ball and makes winning contributions. Wade does that in spades. The issue is that, because of Cleveland's lack of size, he is way too important to the group than he probably should be. 

Much of the Cavs' success depends on Wade's availability, despite his passive nature. He is selfless, sometimes to a fault, but there is no doubt about what he's meant to the Wine and Gold for seven years. 

Wade is a free agent now, and he'll have suitors for his services. If Cleveland wants him back, it'll likely come at double the cost of his salary last year, around $11-15 million annually. We'll see what direction the organization goes.

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