REPORT: The Cleveland Cavaliers are prioritizing Dean Wade over Keon Ellis in free agency

REPORT: The Cleveland Cavaliers are prioritizing Dean Wade over Keon Ellis in free agency

June 8, 2026



REPORT: The Cleveland Cavaliers are prioritizing Dean Wade over Keon Ellis in free agency

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a handful of players reaching free agency this summer. The Cavs are also looking to come in under the second apron, after finishing last season as a second-apron team.

Cleveland’s first priority is working out a new deal with James Harden. After taking care of Harden, Cavaliers GM Koby Altman is expected to prioritize re-signing forward Dean Wade. Cleveland has developed Wade from an undrafted player to a core rotation player.

The Cavs may not be able to re-sign both Wade and free agent guard Keon Ellis this offseason. Given Cleveland has more need for depth in their frontcourt, along with wanting to avoid the second apron, that could lead to Ellis being allowed to leave the team in free agency. | https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/285957/Cavaliers-To-Prioritize-Re-Signing-Dean-Wade-Over-Keon-Ellis

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View Comments (23)

  2. In other new the cavs front office are stupid. Lets be real the harden trade will set this team back a decade. Shouldve traded donovan instead went young and hoped DG could return to form.

  5. And this is why we wont win sh*t…Koby altman is fond of one dimensional doofuses only the Cavs get moist for. Dean wade is a larger Okoro and he sucked too

  12. Mitchell is just as good as Brunson who is the best player on the Knicks, so he absolutely can be the best player on a championship team. The difference is Brunson has a superior supporting cast.

  14. Cavs are definition of insanity. Nobody wants Dean Wade but them lol. IF they want to get serious, trading Strus for a big strong 3 and D replacement for Wade and structuring Harden contract to get under the second apron are a great starting point. Also, got to find a gem in the draft

  15. Dean had the highest plus/minus and net rating, his defense is that good. He's a great player for his money. Mitchell on the other hand…

  17. Strus, Wade, Merril are not guys who can help a team win a title. If you took any of these three and put them on NY, SA, or OKC they would never see the court because they aren't good enough.

  18. Sam merril goes 5-7 from three in a game 7 vs Detroit but "can't make a shot in a big game". Why do they let this dude talk about basketball again?

  22. The hunter trade was pointless in the end. For every good shroeder stint there were 4 bad ones and ellis didnt even crack the playoff rotation. Hunter pissed me off this year maybe if we didnt not offer his best friend a contract hed have been better but at the very least he had some size which we lacked without him.

    Honestly we should've just kept levert and niang and never made the trade for hunter to begin with. It was completely useless in retrospect

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