Dean Wade

Wade attempts a shot in an October 2019 exhibition game.

On July 9, 2019, Wade signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers after going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft.[10] On November 18, Wade made his NBA debut against the New York Knicks, he went scoreless but logged one steal in eight minutes of action.[11] Wade only played 12 games with the Cavaliers during his rookie season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.6 rebounds in six minutes of play.[12][13][14] He spent most of the season with the Cavaliers' G League affiliate, the Canton Charge. In the G League, Wade started in 29 of 30 games, averaging 14.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 blocks in 31.1 minutes while shooting 46.1% from the field and 39.9% from 3-point range.[12][13][14]

Wade during warm-ups in a May 2021 game

On July 2, 2020, Wade signed a multi-year deal with the Cavaliers.[14]

On February 23, 2021, Wade made his first NBA career start, logging five points, two rebounds and two assists across 20 minutes in a 112–111 win over the Atlanta Hawks.[15][16] Four days later, Wade scored six points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in 27 minutes of action in a 112–109 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers.[17][18] On March 3, Wade scored a then-career-high 17 points, knocking down five 3-pointers to go along with six rebounds, two assists and one steal across 31 minutes of play in a 114–111 loss to the Indiana Pacers.[19][20] On April 11, Wade scored a career-high 21 points on 8-of-12 field goal shooting and 5-of-8 from three, in addition to six rebounds, two assists and a game-high three steals in 31 minutes of action in a 116–109 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.[21][22][23] On May 10, Wade logged his first career double-double with 19 points and a career-high tying 12 rebounds in a 111–102 loss to the Indiana Pacers.[24][25][26]

Wade driving towards the basket as Norman Powell guards him in November 2021

After Lauri Markkanen entered the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, Wade became the starter at the small forward position.[27] On November 18, 2021, Wade logged 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 from three, along with nine rebounds and a career-high five assists across a career-high 40 minutes of play in a 104–89 loss to the Golden State Warriors.[28][29][30] On December 15, Wade posted his second career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 124–89 win over the Houston Rockets.[31][32] With Markkanen being sidelined due to a sprained ankle he sustained in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 22, 2022, Wade returned to the starting lineup.[33][34][35] On March 28, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee which he sustained on March 12 in a game in Chicago.[36]

On June 22, 2022, the Cavaliers announced they exercised their fourth-year team option on Wade, keeping him with the team for another season.[37] On September 26, Wade signed a multi-year contract extension with the team.[38] On October 30, 2021, Wade scored a career high of 22 points shooting 6-of-8 from three versus the New York Knicks.[39] That night, Wade, Kevin Love, and Donovan Mitchell set the NBA record for most three-pointers made by three different teammates in a single game, scoring a total of 22 threes.[40]