Cavaliers: Dean Wade getting another chance despite season-long struggles

Thus far, Cavaliers forward Dean Wade has had a season to forget. He's back in the starting lineup at small forward for the time being while Isaac Okoro's balky left knee heals. But every time Wade has been given an opportunity to succeed this year, he's found a way to mess it up. Some of the problems have stemmed from injuries. Others have been poor play. There was even one game where he played 25 minutes and didn't attempt a shot. After the Cavs bought out Kevin Love's contract on Feb. 18, it was the perfect scenario for the 6-foot-9, 228-pound Wade. Remember, he was billed as a younger version of Love, with more athleticism, a better defender and a more trusted outside shot, not to mention a lot cheaper. In the six games that followed Love's departure, Wade scored a total of six points and pulled down 14 rebounds. In the last three games, he was held scoreless, which forced Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff to yank him from his rotation. After that, things went from bad to worse for the Kansas State product. He missed 24 games with a left shoulder sprain, fought his way back and then missed two more with an illness. Now, almost out of necessity, Wade is back in Bickerstaff's good graces. He was inserted into the starting lineup at small forward Sunday in the Cavs' 115-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Wade had five points, including a 3-pointer, five rebounds and an assist in 27 minutes. Bickerstaff is intrigued by Wade's size, his ability to space the floor and how he defends multiple positions. A deeper story is that Okoro's knee, which has caused him to miss three consecutive games, might not be responding to treatment as fast as the Cavs had hoped. They need to be prepared with the first round of the playoffs starting on April 15 or 16. "(We're) trying to make sure that there is a safety net as we work through the Isaac situation," Bickerstaff said. "(We'd like to have) somebody that's getting minutes and comfortable in that spot. (We're) trying to put size on the floor so that we can improve defensively." The Cavs coach said the team made a "commitment" to Wade last summer and decided he was going to be a part of their team moving forward. "We believe in him," Bickerstaff said. "When he's at his best, (we know) how impactful he can be. You've got to give a guy a chance. These are some of these decisions, leap of faiths, (with) guys that you trust that have banked some credit with you like Dean has. (We're) trying to give him an opportunity to get comfortable." On the season, Wade is averaging 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists and shooting .415 from the field and .351 from the 3-point line in 41 games. There is a concern Okoro won't be ready to start the playoffs. "I don't have an answer for you right now, to be honest with you," Bickerstaff said. "We are trying to progress him, but we'll see what happens and we've always got to do what's right by him." The coach said for Okoro to miss a game, "it's because he's in real discomfort." Tip-ins The Cavs are assured of finishing below .500 on the road this year. With road games in Orlando tonight and Thursday, Cleveland is 18-21 away from home. Guard Donovan Mitchell recorded his 12th game of 40 or more points, the most in any one season in franchise history. He also is the first player in team history to score 40 or more points in three consecutive games. Power forward Evan Mobley has blocked three or more shots in five consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NBA. Former Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas had a streak of eight straight games with three or more blocks from Feb. 23 to March 8, 2004. Mobley has also recorded zero turnovers in four of his last five games. Cavs swingman Caris LeVert has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 games. Contact Bob Finnan at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on Twitter.