Rockets Tried to Commerce for Cavs’ Dean Wade Before Touchdown Finney-Smith

The Houston Rockets turned unforgettable with the Kevin Durant mega commerce from the Phoenix Suns. It’s a game-breaking deal that considerably shocked the entire NBA league.

But though that tremendous deal obtained everybody’s consideration, Houston’s entrance workplace additionally toiled quietly within the background to strengthen their bench with cautious maneuvers, certainly one of which concerned a failed bid to get Cleveland Cavaliers ahead Dean Wade.

Houston Made a Full MLE Offer to Sign Wade

Before signing Dorian Finney-Smith into free company, the Rockets shopped round for a number of choices to bolster their wing rotation. Wade was reportedly at or close to the highest of that record, ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel experiences.

The Rockets allegedly made an overture to the Cavaliers between the NBA draft and the onset of free company to accumulate Dean Wade.

Sources disclosed that Houston was keen to provide Wade a straight mid-level exception (MLE) extension, much like the deal that they in the end prolonged to Finney-Smith after he parted with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Though Cleveland wouldn’t get entangled. Although Wade’s stat line was modest, the Cavaliers noticed him as a key member of their rotation. His measurement, defensive flexibility, and outdoors taking pictures have been belongings to Cleveland’s sport plan, belongings that additionally made him a fascinating match for the Rockets.

Why Wade Was on Houston’s Radar

Dean Wade will not be a well-known face, however he matches the invoice in a number of areas for a severe contender. He performed 5.4 factors, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per sport in 59 video games for the Cleveland Cavaliers through the 2023–24 season.

Shooting 36.0% from exterior, Wade supplies flooring spacing and defensive versatility. Entering his closing season of his deal in 2024–25, he makes solely $6.6 million, a budget-friendly asset for any group.

According to The Dream Shake, Houston’s pursuit of Wade signifies they’re thinking about greater than splashy transactions. The entrance workplace clearly appreciates gamers who’re able to defending a number of positions and match comfortably into an orientation-driven system.

Rockets Acquire Finney-Smith Instead and It’s a Success

When the Cavaliers quashed negotiations, Houston went looking for Dorian Finney-Smith, signing him from the Lakers on equivalent MLE offers they offered to Wade. Finney-Smith, a fringe defender and veteran chief, supplies the Rockets with the identical ability package deal, albeit a bit extra postseason know-how.

As Wade remained in Cleveland, Houston didn’t go away with out one thing. Finney-Smith’s two-way expertise makes the roster stronger, notably amidst new stars similar to Durant.

Rockets Build Big and Smart

The Houston offseason was greater than a headline-making Kevin Durant commerce. Their pursuit of Dean Wade and subsequent pick-up of Dorian Finney-Smith is an indication of a franchise discovering steadiness between star energy, depth, and defensive smarts.

Both Cleveland and Houston come out winners: one retains an necessary rotation piece, and the opposite will get a veteran to shore up a rising contender.