How Will the Addition of Dwyane Wade Impact the Cavaliers this Season?
Wade reunites with LeBron, but his addition likely won’t be enough to help Cleveland dethrone Golden State
Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are teammates once again and part of the banana boat is back together, only this time in Cleveland.
Wade signed a one-year, $2.3 million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday after clearing waivers. He inked the deal after agreeing to a buyout with the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. In Wade’s lone season playing in his hometown of Chicago, he earned nearly $40 million, making it an easier decision to take a massive pay cut to rejoin LeBron in Cleveland.
Wade’s tight knit relationship with LeBron cemented his decision to sign with Cleveland instead of San Antonio, Oklahoma City or Miami, three teams who were also interested in signing the 12-time All-Star guard, but missed out on his services.
“There’s no better place to be right now to continue to play and compete at the highest level. Cleveland believes in my talents and what I can bring to a championship contender both as a player and leader. I look forward to reuniting and playing alongside my brother LeBron,” the 12-time All-Star guard said in a statement. “We’ve already won two championships together and I hope we win a third.”
At 35 years old, Wade still brings enough of a skillset to the Cavs to improve them, but his impact should not be overstated. It’s no secret that Cleveland and Boston are heavy favorites in the Eastern Conference and Wade’s addition does little to catapult the Cavs’ chances.
Wade averaged 18 points for the Bulls last season. In 14 seasons, he has averaged 23.3 points, 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds a game. Remember, these numbers Wade averaged last season were on a poor Bulls roster that often included him as one of the focal points of the team’s offense. He won’t have the pressure to impact a game like he did last season, particularly because he is joining a deep roster that includes James, Kevin Love, JR Smith and Tristan Thompson.
Yes, he brings veteran leadership to the locker room and playmaking to the court, but Wade won’t be expected to perform at an optimal level until the playoffs. He may also be expected to pick up the slack left by the absence of the newly-acquired Isaiah Thomas, who is injured and is expected to be out until at least January.
Cleveland’s expected Opening Night starting lineup will include Derrick Rose-Wade-LeBron-Kevin Love-Tristan Thompson. If this is indeed the lineup the cavaliers trot out on the court, expect the offense to be stagnant at times, particularly with the lack of outside shooting threats. Perhaps Wade’s arrival will impact JR Smith the most, as he now shifts to the bench, where he gives the Cavs a formidable shooter and sixth man option to rely on when the team needs a boost.
Another area where the Cavs may need Wade to improve is his ability to score off the ball. This is particularly interesting because Derrick Rose recently said at media day that his job is to create shots and scoring opportunities for his teammates. As he’s aged and injuries have diminished his abilities, Wade has increasingly relied on scoring on isolation plays rather than cutting to the hoop and scoring off the ball like he did in his prime.
While Wade’s presence is certainly welcomed in Cleveland, his addition alone fails to transform the Cavs into clear title favorites, especially when considering how deep the Western Conference is.
