Jason Burgos
A new rumor claims the Cleveland Cavaliers are in danger of losing one of their players this summer because he will be “one of the league’s more attractive unrestricted free agents.”
In a lot of ways, this was a productive season for the Cavaliers. Yes, they didn’t dominate the East as some experts predicted. However, they addressed their shortcomings by trading for future Hall of Famer James Harden. And the 11-time All-Star played a key role in Cleveland taking another step forward and reaching the Conference Finals this year.
But being soundly battered by the New York Knicks in a four-game sweep shows they aren’t serious NBA Finals contender yet. Nevertheless, the organization believes a full training camp with Harden will make a huge difference next season. However, they have to make sure they re-sign him in free agency after he opts out of the final year of his deal.
But as impactful as he was for the Cavaliers, a new rumor suggests a different impending Cleveland free agent will have a lot of suitors this summer.
Dean Wade expected to be one of NBA’s ‘more attractive’ free agents
“Sources say that team officials already concede behind the scenes that it will be extremely difficult to keep both [Dean Wade and Keon Ellis],” NBA insider Jake Fischer reports. “My early read: The priority is likely going to be bringing back Wade, who started a career-high 38 games this season and has been one of Cleveland’s top point-of-attack defenders as a jumbo-sized swingman.
“As a result, Wade increasingly projects as one of the league’s more attractive unrestricted free agents … one expected to contend for a healthy portion of some team’s full $15 million midlevel exception.”
The Cavaliers were the only team in the NBA above the second tax apron this season. A revised deal for more years and less money annually with Harden will bring them under that apron. However, will they get closer to it or go over again to re-sign Wade if he gets a higher-than-expected offer? He would be a key rotation loss if he went elsewhere for more money and a bigger role.
