2025-26 Season
DEAN WADE
2025-26 Season
DEAN WADE
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 18 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 234 Forwards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Dean Wade spent the first quarter of the season trapped in a maddening cycle of offensive passivity and defensive survival. He opened the year looking like an ideal role player, posting a +5.7 impact score on 10/22 vs NYK by drilling all three of his attempts from deep and executing flawless weak-side rotations. But that aggression quickly vanished. During a brutal -12.2 impact showing on 10/26 vs MIL, he passed up open looks and bricked the few perimeter shots he took, severely cramping the half-court spacing. He occasionally salvaged his value through sheer grit, like when he managed a +2.1 impact on 10/31 vs TOR despite shooting a miserable 1-for-7 from the floor. His smothering point-of-attack defense completely erased his matchup that night, keeping him playable when his jumper abandoned him. Ultimately, Wade's effectiveness fluctuated violently based on his willingness to pull the trigger. When he hesitates to let it fly from deep, he shrinks the court for everyone else, turning his minutes into a glaring offensive liability.
Dean Wade’s midseason stretch was defined by a maddening offensive passivity that routinely sabotaged his otherwise sturdy defensive presence. Look no further than 12/19 vs CHI. He managed just 2 points and posted a brutal -14.4 impact because his complete refusal to attack allowed defenders to freely roam and double-team primary creators. Even when his outside shot finally fell, hidden costs often dragged down his overall value. During 12/23 vs NOP, he scored 11 points but still recorded a -2.9 impact because his floor time coincided with massive opponent runs. Yet, when he committed to decisive action, his on-court value skyrocketed. On 01/24 vs ORL, Wade generated a massive +12.3 impact on a mere 10 points because his flawless 4-for-4 shooting and suffocating defensive rotations completely tilted the math. He remains a fascinating rotational piece, but his crippling hesitation too often leaves his team playing four-on-five on the perimeter.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Boom-or-bust player. Wade's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~4 points per game.
Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 41% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Defensive difference-maker. Wade consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Slight upward trend. First-half impact: -3.3, second-half: -0.9. Modest improvement — possibly settling into a rhythm.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 5 games. Longest cold streak: 6 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 59 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
61 games played
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