The Cleveland Cavs are looking for ways to retool this offseason after a roller coaster 2025-26 campaign that ended with a sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. The Cavs have multiple players hitting free agency this summer, including versatile swingman Dean Wade, who played well for Cleveland in the playoffs for the most part.
Recently, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer took to Stein’s Substack to report on the latest on the Cavs’ quest to keep Wade, as well as what that could mean for another player on their roster who will be hitting free agency.
“While the Cavaliers, sources say, are still prioritizing the return of the versatile swingman, Wade is expected to draw interest from various playoff teams. Philadelphia, we’re told, is among them,” they reported. “Keon Ellis, meanwhile, appears less likely to stay in Cleveland … unless the Cavaliers lose Wade.”
Ellis was acquired at the trade deadline by the Cavs from the Sacramento Kings this past season and largely struggled to acclimate to Cleveland’s roster, marking the second straight year that Cleveland had swung and missed on a trade deadline acquisition on the wing, with the De’Andre Hunter of the prior season also largely being viewed as a failure.
Stein and Fischer mentioned the Brooklyn Nets as a potential landing spot for Ellis in free agency.
Meanwhile, ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel also named the 76ers as a possible destination for Wade in free agency. The Cavs’ brass might have to dig deep in their pockets in order to keep the talented wing.
Even with Wade back in the mix, the Cavs appear to be a ways away from legit title contention, but losing him for nothing would certainly be a step in the wrong direction.