In this new series, Sixers Wire looks at the 16 players, per Spotrac, that comprise the Philadelphia 76ers roster — 14 under standard contracts and the two players on two-way deals — and gives each three goals for the 2026-27 season.
The new season begins on Oct. 20, and training camp is right around the corner. Now is the time to begin previewing the new season of adventure that is Sixers basketball.
Up next in this series is new addition Dean Wade. The Sixers brought in the 7-year big man early in free agency after all his years with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 6-foot-9 forward from Kansas State averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in the 2025-26 season as he helped the Cavs reach the Eastern Conference finals.
For Wade, his three
goals are as follows:
Bring versatility to the bench unit
Yes, Wade is 6-foot-9 and primarily plays power forward, but he can defend so many different positions. The Sixers can always use more help on that end of the floor and he has the capability of being able to defend other big men while also taking on the challenge of defending ball-handlers when having to switch in the pick-and-roll game. If he can give the Sixers that much-needed optionality on the defensive end of the floor, it brings another dynamic for them to grow for that second group.
Do the little things
This is the skill that Wade brings to the floor that the Sixers will use the most. They have a lot of high-usage players and will need somebody like Wade who doesn't need the ball to be able to cut and find open spots on the floor in order to get easy buckets. If he can continue to move without the basketball, find open spots either around the 3-point line or even around the basket, then he is going to thrive within this offensive ecosystem and the Sixers will be able to grow an organic attack. Having Wade around will be a big help in the grand scheme of things.
Be a playmaker
One has to believe Wade has the capabilities to be a more than solid playmaker out on the floor. The 1.5 assists he averaged in Cleveland in the previous season is a career-high for him and if he can tap into that more, that would be yet another big step forward for this offense. Coach Nick Nurse is all about versatility and finding different ways to score. If Wade can become something of an offensive hub, then the Sixers will be able to feed him the ball in the high post and let him orchestrate things on that end of the floor. Having multiple playmakers and hubs are so important in today's NBA.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 76ers 3 goals: Dean Wade needs to bring needed versatility every night
