The Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to be interested in signing Dean Wade, which just proves Rob Pelinka didn’t learn from overpaying Jake LaRavia last summer. LA gave LaRavia $6 million per year, only for him to fall completely out of the playoff rotation. The goal is to build a title contender around Luka Doncic, and the Lakers can’t afford to offer a 20-minute per game player more than the minimum to accomplish that goal.
Wade has averaged 20.0 minutes per game for his career. The 6’9 forward is a career 36.7 percent 3-point shooter, but he isn’t going to play starter's minutes or flip the game. Wade’s minutes went down as the playoffs progressed, including averaging under 20 per game in the conference finals against the Knicks. The Lakers have to avoid overpaying for lesser role players.
Wade isn't coming to Los Angeles on the minimum. He earned $6.6 million last season and refused an extension with the Cavaliers over money. Michael Scotto reported the Lakers, Cavs, 76ers, Spurs, Suns, Pistons, and Blazers all have interest in Wade. There will be a bidding war for the unrestricted free agent, and Los Angeles can’t afford to overpay. Pelinka clearly didn’t learn his lesson.
The Lakers failed to learn from overpaying Jake LaRavia last summer
LaRavia averaged 21.3 minutes per game in the last two seasons before he hit free agency and shot 37.9 percent from 3-point range. The Lakers were eager to add a versatile 6’7 forward that will space the floor, play hard, and make a few plays. Other teams were interested, which forced LA to give him a two-year deal worth $12 million.
The Lakers are ready to move on after the first season. LaRavia averaged 25.3 minutes per game during the regular season, but he was unplayable against the Thunder in the second round of the playoffs. LA was outscored by 23 points in 24 minutes with him on the floor in the first two games before head coach JJ Redick pulled the plug.
Wade stayed in the rotation, but he averaged 19.8 minutes per game in the conference finals as the Cavaliers were outscored by 24 points in his 79 minutes. The 29-year-old is a better defender than LaRavia, but nobody is mistaking him for prime Dennis Rodman. Cleveland would have played him more, not less, against the Knicks if he could solve the Lakers’ point of attack issues.
This would be a repeat of a move that just hurt the Lakers. Pelinka would have to overpay to win the bidding on Wade. The forward would play 20 minutes per game during the regular season and be a complete non-factor when the Lakers need him most, just like LaRavia.
Los Angeles should let Luka Doncic be more involved in the recruiting process. He got Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton on the Lakers last year. Signing Dean Wade smells like a disastrous Pelinka move that the franchise would quickly regret.
The Los Angeles Lakers are rumored to be interested in Dean Wade, but they should move on. The 6’9 forward will command more than the minimum, and the Lakers should be searching for postseason difference-makers. That isn’t Wade, no matter how much LA wants him to be. Learn from the LaRavia signing and abort this mission before it is too late.
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