Report: Cavaliers’ Dean Wade Could Be Done For Season

Wade hasn’t played since March 8 versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

“That lingering issue, initially characterized as “soreness,” is now being termed a ‘knee sprain’ — the kind of injury that could keep him out for the remainder of the regular season, sources tell cleveland.com,” Fedor wrote. 

Wade has appeared in 54 games for the Cavaliers this season. He’s averaging 5.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists while shooting 41.4% from the field, 39.1% from beyond the arc and 76.9% from the free-throw line. 

“Sources say Wade is doing everything possible to get back and he finally started making progress recently after the latest form of treatment,” Fedor wrote. “There is hope that time and maintenance will allow him to return for the playoffs — although that’s not even a given at this point.”

The Cavaliers are 45-30 on the season. They are in third place in the Eastern Conference standings. 

If the regular season ended today, Cleveland would face the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. 

“We’re evaluating him on a day-by-day type of thing,” Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before Sunday’s 130-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets. “There’s an issue with the knee and we’re trying to see if we can get it to resolve over time. They take a step here and try this. Then they try the next thing. Can we do this? Does this help? We’re just waiting to see how quickly he can improve. It’s just going to take time.”

Wade has career averages of 5.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 224 games with the Cavaliers. He made his debut during the 2019-20 season. 

The Cavaliers are 21st in the NBA in points per game, sixth in points per game allowed and ninth in net rating. 

“We’re trying to get healthy and stay healthy and get rotations and those types of things to be consistent,” Bickerstaff said. “Then our team will be consistent as well.”