Dean Wade didn’t need much convincing once free agency opened. The 76ers came at him fast, stayed on him, and made sure he knew exactly how much they wanted him.
In a recent interview with NBA reporter Brett Siegel, Wade said Philadelphia’s front office was aggressive from the start and that his connection with new team president Mike Gansey mattered just as much. Gansey was the man who believed in him as an undrafted prospect in 2019, and that history carried real weight in Wade’s decision.
"The 76ers were super interested as soon as they could start talking with me in free agency. Mike and those guys were calling me non-stop during the first five hours or so of free agency, and that told me everything I needed to know about how much they valued me. And having Mike, someone who has always believed in me and supported me, goes a long way."
Wade, who spent seven seasons with the Cavaliers, had plenty of options. The Lakers, Clippers and Pistons were all reportedly interested, and Cleveland also wanted to keep him. Philadelphia still managed to win the race.
The fit was obvious from the start. Before the offseason even began, the 76ers knew they needed help at forward.
Kelly Oubre Jr. was headed to the Pacers, and the roster was thin on size at that spot. Wade’s game gave them exactly what they were missing: a multi-positional defender who can space the floor with open threes and cover ground with his size and length.
He also came without a massive price tag, which only made him more valuable for a team that believed he could have been starting games for them had it not been for LeBron James heading to Philly.
With other teams in the mix, Philadelphia understood it couldn’t hesitate. The front office moved quickly, leaned on Gansey’s familiarity with Wade, and landed a veteran forward who now looks poised for a bigger role than expected. That speaks to the kind of impact he can make without ever needing the ball in his hands.
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Nick Nurse now has a decision he probably would rather avoid: which starter gets nudged aside if Wade is on the floor at the end of games. Every one of Philadelphias current starters brings real defensive value and meaningful two-way impact, so the choice is less about weakness than about balance, roles and which combination gives the Sixers the cleanest answer when the game is on the line. [Read more 🡒]
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That flexibility matters because the Sixers seem intent on avoiding a repeat of last seasons mistake, when Kyle Lowrys arrival brought more locker-room value than on-court impact. This time around, the roster construction has leaned toward veterans who can actually help in meaningful minutes while still bringing leadership, a sign the team is better positioned to react if the season brings the kind of midstream changes contenders often need. [Read more 🡒]
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The off-court side of it has drawn almost as much attention. James also announced a partnership with Polymarket, a sports betting-related company, a choice that landed in the middle of the NBAs ongoing unease about how closely players should align with gambling businesses. NBA insider Brett Siegel was among those to criticize the partnership, and it is the latest example of how James can still turn a routine business decision into a debate with real league-wide implications. [Read more 🡒]