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With the knockout portion of the NBA In-Season Tournament underway, the Cleveland Cavaliers get a brief reprieve during the 82-game grind. Despite going 3-1 in the Group Stage format of the inaugural competition, the Cavs didn't qualify as the lone Eastern Conference Wild Card. Instead, they get a chance to rest, recover, and prepare for the Orlando Magic, their upcoming opponent, and a tough six-day, four-game road trip.
“We're looking forward to this,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff told ClutchPoints. “As coaches in particular, you can use it to clean up things that you need to clean up. Guys can find some sort of rhythm and have a small reset. They can get some rest, sleep in their own bed, and the things that you miss when you're in and out and back and forth, so this is definitely good for us.”
This is a prime opportunity for Cleveland, who was bit hard by the injury bug to start the season, to get healthy. While Bickerstaff said that sixth man Caris LeVert could not practice while recovering from a left knee injury, sharpshooting forward Dean Wade could participate in team activities.
Dean Wade coming back?
Wade, who has missed six games for the Cavs with an ankle sprain, is a bit of a mercurial player for Cleveland. While his scoring numbers are his second-lowest for his career at 3.1 points per game, he provides floor spacing from the big man position, which is invaluable for how the Cavs operate. Wade also provides Cleveland with rebounding and defensive versatility, showcasing an ability to defend opposing guards, forwards and big men whenever asked.
This isn't a way of saying that the Cavs lacking Wade is why the team has found themselves in a rut offensively. Georges Niang, who has averaged 10.6 points per game and connected on nearly 33 percent of his 3-point attempts while Wade was sidelined, is the hyper-offensive variant of Wade's skillset. Niang is a bomb's away 3-point shooter and a valuable rotation piece due to his spacing ability. While there are differences, that doesn't mean there aren't similarities between the two, mind you.
Like Niang, Wade is a back-end rotational piece that can provide depth and unique wrinkles for Cleveland. Unlike Niang, Wade can provide defensive upside, and with a lengthy team like the Magic looming, his availability could be a bonus for the Cavs. Wade could spend time defending Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner, helping Cleveland slow down two of the biggest threats in Orlando's rotation. He can also provide spacing for the Cavs guards and big men to attack the basket, which should be a key focus with Wendell Carter Jr. sidelined with a broken hand.
Again, Dean Wade isn't to fix all the existing issues for Cleveland on either end of the floor. But the Cavs shouldn't be picky about having another healthy option, considering that they only played seven players in their rotation in a win over the Detroit Pistons. It'll all hinge on whether or not Wade continues progressing through Cleveland's downtime before they face the Magic at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. But, based on the simple fact that Wade has gone from not practicing at all to handling contact and physicality during practice is encouraging about his availability going forward.
If he can play, it could make a huge difference for a Cavs team still looking to find their identity in a competitive Eastern Conference.
