Dean Wade has been a name Los Angeles Lakers fans have been forced to familiarize themselves with amid rumored interest dating back to midway through the 2025-26 season. Those links resurfaced over recent days, but ultimately, Wade will not be the next member of the Lakers.
Shams Charania reported: "Free agent forward Dean Wade has agreed to a four-year, $39 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN. Several contenders pursued the former Cavaliers forward, who has become an indispensable defending and shooting frontcourt piece."
Wade would have been a tremendous fit in Los Angeles. The versatile defender could have been tasked with a wide array of assignments on that end, while delivering low-maintenance offense on the other. Luckily for the Lakers, this could mean another player is headed their way in the wake of this move.
The team signing Wade is not insignificant in this equation. The 76ers have several free agents on the open market. Notably, one of them has already been rumored as a future Laker. That would be Quentin Grimes.
Dean Wade to Philadelphia could mean Quentin Grimes rumors hold weight for Los Angeles
Jake Fischer and Marc Stein have both connected Grimes as a player on his way to Los Angeles. Stein was bold enough to say there is already 'growing anticipation leaguewide' for the (currently) former 76ers guard to ultimately secure a new contract from the Lakers.
It does make a ton of sense.
Grimes has a history of playing with Luka Doncic and a track record of working out with Lakers head coach JJ Redick. Few free agency decision feel as telegraphed as him joining up with Los Angeles after a failed restricted free agency fiasco with the 76ers last offseason.
If Philadelphia and Grimes were still apart on the number, a team like the Lakers would have been far less hesitant for a player that has proven success with Doncic. The Dallas Mavericks, where the two were teammates, were a +9.1 when he and Luka played together in their short stint.
Wade's salary figure offers reason to believe money could have been a real hold-up for the 76ers and Grimes.
The former Cleveland Cavalier has his number come in at less than $10 million per year. Grimes was asking for far more last summer before accepting the qualifying offer to play in Philadelphia during the 2025-26 season.
On what has been an uneventful day overall, in terms of additions, the Lakers could quietly have one of their new guys already locked up. The move just awaits its official announcement.
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