The Philadelphia 76ers continue to reshape their roster. They have signed veteran forward Dean Wade to a four-year, $39 million contract.
How We Got Here:
The Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the most active teams in this free agency so far. They completed the biggest trade of the year by acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics. On top of that, they also brought in Anfernee Simons to be their backup point guard.
Wade is coming off another solid season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Additionally, he was a vital part of the Cavaliers’ playoff run, starting 14 playoff games and serving as the primary defender on Scottie Barnes and Cade Cunningham.
A key factor in the 76ers getting Wade and beating out several other contenders was the familiarity with Philadelphia’s president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey. Gansey previously worked in Cleveland’s front office and played a significant role in bringing Wade into the organization after he went undrafted in 2019.
His Impact:
Offensively, Wade fits naturally into Philadelphia’s system. He isn’t a player who needs touches to be effective, instead thriving as a catch-and-shoot threat who keeps the ball moving and creates spacing for his teammates. On top of that, he will do all the little things on the offensive end that will make the team better.
On the defensive end of the court, Wade can play either forward spot, allowing Philadelphia to experiment with bigger defensive lineups or smaller groups that emphasize spacing and switching. His length, instincts, and positional versatility allow him to guard multiple stars across the Eastern Conference while taking pressure off teammates.
This is another move for the 76ers that allows them to build off of their performance in the playoffs last season. Wade brings everything that the 76ers need, taking them one step closer to their ultimate goal of winning a championship.
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