CLEVELAND, Ohio — Akron native LeBron James wasn’t the only member of the Philadelphia 76ers to make an emotional return to Cleveland on Friday night.
Dean Wade did as well.
Once the longest-tenured member of the Cavaliers, Wade joined Philadelphia as an unrestricted free agent this past summer — a decision that wasn’t entirely his.
“I wanted to come back,” Wade said following the Sixers’ 119-95 blowout loss against the Cavs. “But the way things happened, it was just craziness.”
Wade is right about that — the NBA offseason in a nutshell.
After advancing to the Eastern Conference finals and being swept by eventual champion New York in a mostly non-competitive series, the Cavs spent weeks re-evaluating the roster, trying to determine how to take the next organizational step.
There were internal conversations about the possibility of shaking up the roster with a blockbuster trade for either Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jaylen Brown — two stars eventually dealt to conference rivals Miami and Philadelphia, respectively. But the Cavs determined the price was too high.
Then, as free agency approached, LeBron James announced his intention not only to play for a 24th season but to leave the Los Angeles Lakers, where he had been for the previous eight seasons.
That changed a lot of team’s offseason plans. Cleveland included.
Staring at a financial crunch and coming off a season where they were the league’s only second apron team, the Cavs had to make difficult roster-related decisions — even though they wanted to keep the versatile, defense-first Wade.
So, he signed with the 76ers instead — a four-year, $39 million contract, reuniting with president of basketball operations Mike Gansey who was consistently a Wade advocate while part of Cleveland’s front office.
“I was super comfortable with it here. I thought I’d probably just come back to Cleveland,” Wade said. “Had a house and relationships with everyone, so it would have been easy. But it just didn’t happen. It’s unfortunate.”
A key reserve on a Sixers team that entered the season with championship aspirations and has quickly vaulted to the top of the East standings, Wade did not play in the first matchup between Cleveland and Philadelphia because of an ankle injury.
Prior to that opener on Oct. 22, Wade’s wife and Jarrett Allen’s wife had dinner together. Wade, a groomsman in Allen’s wedding last year, still calls Cleveland’s center one of his best friends.
For Wade, that’s one of the things he cherishes the most about seven years with the Cavaliers.
“Made a lot of great relationships here in Cleveland and it’s nice to see those people again, talk to them, see how their families are,” Wade said. “Just like moments with teammates where you build together. Having those relationships with those people is what sticks out to me. When I think back on it, those were the best times, those relationships and all the friendships I’ve made. There were a couple games, you know, playoff games and things of that nature as well, but when I really think about it, that’s what I go to.”
So, what were the emotions like walking into Rocket Arena as a visitor?
“It was weird,” Wade said. “Emotions were high. Was pretty hard to stay focused on what was in front of me. But it was good. I was happy to see everybody. Unfortunately, we didn’t play our best basketball. Outside of the basketball, it was great. Energy was high.”
The 29-year-old Wade, who became a Cavaliers development story, going from undrafted rookie free agent to part-time starter and nightly contributor, entered Friday’s game around the midway point of the first quarter. He received a nice ovation from the sellout crowd.
Shortly after, the chirping started — from Cleveland’s bench.
“They talked a little [expletive],” Wade said with a smile. “It was all friendly and stuff like that. Anytime I was on that end, I heard Jaylon [Tyson] yelling at me. It was just good to talk to those guys.”
As this past summer progressed, with both Wade and James signing in Philadelphia, the Cavs turned their attention elsewhere.
They brought Mario Hezonja back to the NBA after a five-year stint overseas. On Friday night, Hezonja tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double, in 27 minutes off the bench.
Cleveland also swung a five-team trade for ascending young swingman Peyton Watson, the former Denver Nugget who returned from a two-game absence because of hamstring tightness. Watson, viewed as the team’s new defensive stopper, brought an early-game tenacity at that end of the floor — the role Wade used to have in Cleveland.
Wade, meanwhile, went scoreless in 21 minutes, missing all four of his shot attempts.
Friday didn’t go as planned. The summer didn’t either. But everything seems to have worked out well.
For both sides.
“For my options that I had, made a great decision and I’m building relationships here,” Wade said. “Philly is awesome. This team is great. High-character people. Weird going to a new place and meeting like a thousand new people. But after a couple weeks, it gets a lot easier.
“Pretty happy with my decision.”
