Once the Pelicans finally conclude their head coaching search and name their next leader of New Orleans basketball, the work really starts. With aspirations to be competitive and battle for a playoff spot in the 2026-27 season, this roster will need serious rounding out. Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver have a nice foundation in place, but this group desperately needs to add some real floor spacers and a true starting-caliber center.
Although getting a big man and adding shooters should be priority No. 1 for the Pelicans this summer if they opt to also add some additional help on the wing, the playoffs have revealed an ideal target. While Jarrett Allen’s strong Game 7 showing against the Toronto Raptors stole headlines in Cleveland, the Cavaliers don’t escape that series without Dean Wade.
Wade is a Swiss army knife type at 6-foot-9. He is an effective rebounder, a strong defender, a consistent shooter, and a really good connective piece. With him set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, he could be a sneaky add for Dumars and Weaver.
Wade is the exact type of connector Pelicans need
This regular season, Wade averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 36.2 percent from deep in 59 games. These stats aren't anything crazy, but his impact goes beyond them. In the Cavs round one matchup with the Raptors, his defensive efforts on Brandon Ingram made the former Pelican forward unplayable. In the four full games BI appeared, he shot 33.9 percent from the field and averaged just under 15 points per game.
The main reason for these extreme lowlights for Ingram was Wade's defense. He walled him up in all series using his strength to bully BI and knock him off his spots consistently. This made it impossible for Ingram to ever settle into a rhythm, and when you're an isolation scorer like he is, not being in rhythm is the worst thing possible.
His strength and defensive knowledge translate well to his rebounding, and factor in why he could be such a versatile piece for the Pelicans. Wade is a very strong rebounder, and because he is 6-foot-9, if he were with the Pelicans, they could experiment with small-ball lineups that flexed him to center next to Zion Williamson. For years, fans have wanted a spacer next to Z, and while it wouldn't be at a high frequency, his size and shooting ability would make for a fun option to toy with.
Wade's strong performance in the postseason is likely to draw more eyes to the 29-year-old this offseason. However, he hasn't been elite enough to play himself out of the Pelicans' price range. Signing Wade would be a great budget way to address several needs in one move. He gives them more size, another trusted shooter, a strong defender, and someone who can play the three through five.
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