ESPN News Services
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade has agreed to a three-year, $18.5 million extension, his agents, Austin Walton and Adam Papas, told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday.
Wade, 25, is a development success story of the Cavaliers’ rebuild, an undrafted two-way player who will now compete to be a starter this season for the Cavaliers.
Wade averaged 5.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 19.2 minutes in 51 games (28 starts) last season before suffering a knee injury and undergoing surgery. He missed the final 15 games.
The 6-foot-9 Wade had been valuable as a fill-in starter, and the Cavs missed him down the stretch. Cleveland dropped eight of its last 11 games in the regular season and then lost both play-in games.
However, the Cavs had a 22-win improvement from the previous season and are expected to contend next season with Wade in their rotation. He gives the Cavs depth along with size and another outside shooter. Wade made 43% (21 of 49) of his 3-pointers in his last 12 starts.
The former Kansas State standout has appeared in 126 games over three seasons with Cleveland, which signed him to a two-way contract in 2019.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
