The Philadelphia 76ers landed Dean Wade early in free agency, bringing him in specifically to build a roster capable of seriously contending for a championship. This dude is the absolute definition of a glue guy, someone who can step right in and deliver all those critical “little things” a team needs to win. And let me tell you, the Sixers are already seeing it, big time, in training camp and preseason.
Dean Wade’s Hidden Impact Is Already Showing Up Big
Wade doesn’t even need the ball in his hands to make an impact. We’re talking about a player who can knock down open looks from 3-point range and then immediately cut to the basket, making plays happen. These are the kinds of efforts that have head coach Nick Nurse completely blown away. Nurse spoke on Saturday in Boston, saying, “He’s just super solid and he’s really smart.” It’s clear that being with Wade every day has changed Nurse’s perspective. He continued, “There’s things that you notice when you’re with him every day that you didn’t know that he was that good at, right? Because you only see him a couple times a year, something like that. And now you see him on a daily basis, but he’s been really really good.” Wade has already shown he can mesh with players like LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Maxey, making his presence felt without dominating the ball. That’s the connector you need. Every serious contender needs a guy like this to support their stars, because a strong supporting cast is absolutely still crucial in today’s NBA.
Nurse Is Hyped On This Addition To The Roster
Coach Nurse summed it up perfectly: “He’s a really good addition.” He rattled off the list of qualities that make Wade so valuable, calling him a “just solid rebounder, solid defender, ball mover, shooter, just lots of things that he can do under the above average category, which is good.” Think about that for a second: “above average” in *lots* of things. That’s not just a bench warmer, that’s a true difference-maker who doesn’t need the spotlight. It sounds like the Sixers might have snagged an absolute steal with this guy, and it’s making them look even tougher this preseason.
The Sixers will wrap up their preseason schedule on October 16, when they play host to the Boston Celtics in a preseason rematch. This final tune-up is a huge chance for Wade and the rest of the squad to solidify that chemistry and show everyone what they’re truly capable of heading into the regular season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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