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The Cavs have received offers for swingman De’Andre Hunter — last year’s deadline prize who is in the midst of one of the worst statistical seasons of his career and keeps trying to adapt to a midseason role change. There remains strong interest in free-agent-to-be Dean Wade. Opposing teams have also been wondering if Cleveland has any appetite for breaking up the Core 4 — Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. To this point, Cavs decision-makers have made it clear they aren’t interested in a drastic shake-up. They still think highly of this group and see a pathway back to the top of the wide-open Eastern Conference. They also want to evaluate this roster closer to full strength, believing their prospective rotation — with Garland getting closer to returning from a minor toe injury, the emergence of second-year forward Jaylon Tyson and Max Strus’ eventual comeback from offseason foot surgery — stacks up with anyone in the East.
Danny Cunningham: #Cavs have added Jaylon Tyson (illness) to the injury report for tonight’s game against the Pacers. He’s questionable. Dean Wade (knee) and Jarrett Allen (illness) have both been upgraded to probable.
Danny Cunningham: Kenny Atkinson says that Dean Wade and Sam Merrill are both going to try it pregame but also noted that it’s a quick turnaround between now and Sunday afternoon’s game against Detroit.
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Serena Winters: Dean Wade has been added to the injury report for tonight's game against Denver (left knee soreness - questionable). Dre probable. Merrill questionable.
On the same podcast, Fedor identified De’Andre Hunter, Max Strus, Lonzo Ball and Dean Wade as a handful of players on mid-sized salaries who could potentially be traded in the coming weeks if Cleveland’s front office decides against a more drastic overhaul. The issue, Fedor continued, is that Strus has yet to play a game as he continues to recover from offseason foot surgery, and Hunter, Ball and Wade are all struggling in 2025/26. Fedor pointed out that Ball ($10MM team option for ’26/27) and Wade ($6MM expiring contract) could be easier to move than Hunter and Strus, as the latter two make more money and have guaranteed deals next season.
It's pretty frustrating. I don't know if it's, like, the most frustrating I've been through,” Wade said after Tuesday's practice. “We did have a year where we won 17 games; that was pretty frustrating. With this much talent, and we're playing hard, doing the right things, it's frustrating to not see shots fall when they normally would. And I think that's the most frustrating part is we're doing everything right. We're taking the right process and doing it. It's just things aren't falling our direction right now and that is frustrating. “But I wouldn't say it's the most frustrating thing I've been a part of because we still have that belief. We know we have the talent to come out of this on the right side. So, it's frustrating, but we obviously know we're a better team than what we're showing. We've just got to get some things squared away, go through a few things, fine tune some things, and I think we'll be back – we won't even remember this frustrating part.”
Ethan Sands: The #Cavs have listed Jarrett Allen (finger), Darius Garland (toe), De’Andre Hunter (rest), Sam Merrill (hand), Craig Porter Jr. (hamstring) and Max Strus (foot) as OUT for Monday night’s second leg of the back-to-back in Toronto. Dean Wade (knee) is questionable. #LetEmKnow #NBASky
Spencer Davies: De’Andre Hunter is available for #Cavs vs. Wizards. Dean Wade and Lonzo Ball are out.
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“We did have a plan last year, but health-wise and kind of fitness-wise, we probably weren’t where I wanted to be,” Atkinson said, while mentioning that he wasn’t going to lay out the new plan ahead of time. “And I think that’s the return for that. So we’ve had a lot of those discussions over the offseason, how to do that better and help our guys more.” Adding Nance and Bryant as reserve bigs gives Cleveland not only more depth at the position overall but also provides even more security in the event the backup upon whom they usually rely, Dean Wade, has injury trouble — as is often the case. The Cavs, in Atkinson’s first season, seemed to solve the problem of having two bigs in Allen and Mobley playing together, and they now have more options for specific matchups with more beef on the bench.
Chris Fedor: So I checked in with one source yesterday, and they classified the Cavs' potential of trading Dean as 50/50 at this point—a complete and utter toss-up." "And it's just based on, like I said, the kinds of offers that the Cavs could get for him and whether they deem those as worthy to say yes to. But there is definitely interest in Dean, and I think there are teams around the NBA that value all the same things that the Cavs value with him."
It’s worth noting there was plenty of chatter in the desert about defense-first forward Dean Wade possibly being moved. An unrestricted free agent following the season, the current belief is Wade likely wouldn’t return, with cap-strapped Cleveland being unable to afford him. So, do the Cavs try to get something of value now before he potentially departs? Sources say numerous contenders from each conference have expressed interest. The Dallas Mavericks have been fans for a few years, and a former Cleveland assistant is part of the coaching staff.
From everything that I've heard the Cavs have had discussions about Dean Wade and do they want to see if they they can use him and something else to see if they can get assets back, different kinds of assets back, or different kinds of players back in return? So I think they're trying to figure out what is possible for us. And if we move off of Isaac Okoro’s money if we move off Dean Wade's money, does that make it easier to justify a Ty Jerome contract? Does that make it easier to justify a Sam Merrill contract?
