The Dallas Mavericks will be making moves this offseason to build around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg. They also need to dip into free agency to get a reliable big man who's in his prime.
Dean Wade of the Cleveland Cavaliers is a high-IQ 3-and-D power forward who deserves a new contract, and he's an unrestricted free agent this summer, meaning he can sign with any team. He was making a $6.6 million base salary for the 2025-26 season, but the Mavericks have every excuse in the book to make an offer.
At 29 years old, Wade may be one of the Cavs who may be on the move with a new direction for the team, after the Cavs were swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavs should be building around Donovan Mitchell after leading the squad to a stellar second-half season. With Wade as a UFA, he has every reason to move, and the Mavs can get a dependable bench piece for a reasonable price.
Mavericks should go after Cavaliers forward Dean Wade this summer
Dominic Pagura of Cleveland Cavaliers on SI says Wade is as good as done in Cleveland as a UFA. He's one of those guys who's done his due, and it may be time to move elsewhere, with things moving quickly in Cleveland this summer.
Even if the Mavs keep P.J. Washington next season, Wade is a reliable bench player who can get you decent 19-24 minutes per game. He can also start if Washington is injured or traded, and that's not out of the picture considering team president Masai Ujiri has already been cleaning house.
This season, Wade averaged 5.8 points per game and shot 36 percent from beyond the arc. Not bad numbers, and if Wade even asks for $7 million a year, it would be reasonable considering his production is solid.
The part Mavs fans may scratch their heads about is that this may be the best Wade will get. His production has gotten better little by little, but he's never blossomed the way Cavs fans had hoped. The Mavs don't have to rely on Wade to be a hero. All he has to do is hustle on defense and shoot the ball efficiently to get you some decent minutes.
It may not be the most exciting splash, but Wade provides bench depth with plenty of playoff experience. If the Mavs go in a young direction like they're expected to, a guy like Wade, who's 29, can be the difference in the growth of Flagg and the other young ones.
It's already going to be a busy draft for the Mavericks this summer, but they should pursue a bargain deal and a reliable bench player in Wade.
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