The Philadelphia 76ers have added another notable piece to what’s shaping up as a busy offseason, landing veteran forward Dean Wade after beating out the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs for his services.
Wade, a Kansas product with $38 million in career earnings, was officially signed by Philadelphia on Monday after the deal was closed on June 30. The move gives the 76ers an experienced, defense-first forward who spent last season with Cleveland and drew interest from multiple contenders.
“Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey announced today that the team has signed Dean Wade,” the team said in its press release. “Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.”
The 29-year-old comes to Philadelphia after appearing in 59 games for the Cavaliers last season, including a career-high 38 starts. He posted career bests in points, at 5.8 per game, and assists, at 1.5, while also grabbing 4.2 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per night. His impact showed up on the defensive end, where he had three games with at least three steals and two blocked shots, the most such games on Cleveland in 2025-26.
Wade also gave the Cavaliers useful scoring bursts. He reached double figures 13 times and hit 14 points twice, knocking down at least 50% from three in both of those games.
In the playoffs, he stayed in the rotation throughout Cleveland’s 18-game run in 2026. He averaged a playoff career-high 4.4 points while shooting 46.2% from the field and 37.5% from deep, along with 3.9 rebounds.
Offensively, Wade can help in spots. But his real value comes from what he does on defense.
He can battle bigger post players inside, then slide laterally well enough to stay with quicker wings and keep them out of the paint. His career defensive rating sits at 112.6, a reflection of how steady he’s been on that end.
If he settles into the role Philadelphia wants from him, Wade could be a strong second-unit defensive specialist for the 76ers in 2026-27.
In Other News...
Carter Bryant May Have Opened A Bigger Spurs Door Than Expected
Carter Bryants first two Summer League games were enough to make the Spurs take a longer look at what they have. The rookie averaged 15.5 points and two rebounds in Las Vegas, showing enough shot-making and poise that San Antonio decided to shut him down for the rest of the summer and turn the page toward the NBA season.
The bigger question now is how far that early glimpse can carry into the fall. Bryants path to a larger role is real if his development keeps moving, but the Spurs will want to see more from him as a ball handler before asking him to shoulder extra responsibility. For a team that is always balancing patience with opportunity, that makes his next step one of the more interesting subplots on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Former Piston Tobias Harris Just Landed A Stunning New Payday
The Spurs have added another seasoned frontcourt piece in Tobias Harris, a veteran forward who spent last season with Detroit and brings a long track record of steady production. He played in 63 games a year ago, giving the Pistons reliable scoring and rebounding while continuing to fill out a role that has made him a fixture in the league for more than a decade.
San Antonio announced the signing without disclosing contract terms, leaving the financial side of the move out of view for now. Even so, the deal marks another notable stop for Harris after a season in which he helped Detroit end a long playoff drought, and it gives the Spurs a proven option as they keep shaping the roster around experience and versatility. [Read more 🡒]
The Greatest Spurs Rookies Ever Still Set The Standard Today
The Spurs have built a reputation on rookies who arrive ready to matter, and that history is what makes any new young standout in San Antonio feel bigger than a normal first-year story. From the franchises early stars to the modern era, the standard has been set by players who did more than just learn on the job, and the articles all-time rookie lineup by position reflects that lineage with Dylan Harper, Manu Ginobili, Sean Elliott, Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
Harpers case is especially intriguing because his value was not limited to the regular season, with his rookie postseason work giving the Spurs another reminder of how quickly a young player can change the conversation. Robinsons rookie playoff scoring mark still sits near the top of the franchise record book, and while recent draft picks like Tarris Reed Jr., Jayden Quaintance, Ja'Kobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown are only at the beginning of their journeys, they are part of the same thread San Antonio keeps trying to extend. [Read more 🡒]