Dean Wade is embarking on a new chapter in Philadelphia, joining the ranks of the 76ers.
On Tuesday night, the free agent forward inked a lucrative four-year contract with the 76ers, reportedly worth $39 million, as shared by ESPN.
At the age of 29, Wade is turning the page on his tenure with the Cavaliers, where he evolved into a vital asset, renowned for his defensive prowess and shooting skills in the frontcourt. His journey began in Cleveland when he signed a two-way contract with the team back in 2019, having gone undrafted. Over the span of seven seasons, he firmly established himself on their roster.
Remarkably, Wade held the distinction of being the longest-serving player for the Cavaliers.
Leading up to Tuesday, the Cavaliers and Wade were engaged in ongoing discussions, trying to negotiate a fresh agreement ahead of the free agency period, though they ultimately could not reach a consensus.
But by late Tuesday afternoon, it became clear that Wade would hit the free agency market, and now Philly scopped him up on the first day.
NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that Philadelphia was expected to be one of several teams interested in acquiring Wade last week.
Wade’s defense made him an important piece of Cleveland’s rotation and allowed him to retain a consistent role there. His 6-foot-9 height and 6-foot-10 wingspan made it difficult for opposing guards and forwards to work around him.
Wade averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds alongside 1.5 assists per game during the 2025-26 season, shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from 3-point territory.
Wade started in 14 of the Cavaliers 18 playoff games this past season, where they reached their first Eastern Conference finals in eight years before being swept by the Knicks.
Wade only put up 4.4 points in 22.6 minutes per game in the playoffs, but his defense on stars like Scottie Barnes and Cade Cunningham made him a valuable piece of the Cavs’ run.
His plus-5.0 net rating was the highest among all Cavs players throughout the playoffs.