Former K-State star Dean Wade ‘blessed’ to get one more year with Cleveland Cavaliers
Dean Wade has played exclusively for the Cleveland Cavaliers since he reached the NBA as a rookie in 2019, and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.
The Cavs have exercised their fourth-year team option on the former Kansas State basketball star, which means Wade will continue suiting up at forward in Cleveland for at least one more season at a salary of $1.9 million.
Wade issued a one-word response on social media after the news was announced on Wednesday.
He wrote: “Blessed!!”
Wade, 25, has become a valuable member of the Cavs during his first three seasons as a professional. He has played in 126 games and made 47 starts. He only played on a limited basis as a rookie, but he averaged 6.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in his second season and followed that up with 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds before he was lost to an injury last year.
After also watching him make 36.5% of his three-pointers in the NBA, the Cavs decided the 6-foot-10 forward was worth bringing back for at least one more season in Cleveland.
He is one of only two former K-State basketball players who currently reside on NBA rosters. The other is Xavier Sneed, who played in nine games last season for the Utah Jazz.
Before he made the jump to the NBA, Wade spent four memorable seasons at K-State. He guided the Wildcats to three appearances in the NCAA Tournament and also helped them share a Big 12 championship with Texas Tech as a senior in 2019.
The two-time All-Big 12 player scored 1,510 points and grabbed 684 rebounds with the Wildcats, making him a prime candidate to one day return to Bramlage Coliseum and watch his jersey go up in the rafters.
But he has more time ahead of in the NBA before that happens.
This story was originally published June 22, 2022 at 3:27 PM with the headline "Former K-State star Dean Wade ‘blessed’ to get one more year with Cleveland Cavaliers."