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2017 NBA free agency grades: Cavaliers pick up Dwyane Wade

By Brendan Galella

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quartefinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quartefinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping the signing of Dwyane Wade will be enough to make an appearance in the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive season.

A giddy LeBron James eagerly awaited the arrival of Dwyane Wade, the newest member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

LeBron declared he was happy to keep Wade away from the other 29 teams in the league after Chicago, Flash’s hometown team, waived him following just one season with the Bulls.

The Cleveland roster looks dramatically different following the departure of point guard Kyrie Irving in a trade with Boston, but James was anxious to reunite with Wade, comparing his addition to the team to the first day of school and discovering your best friend in the same class.

James told USA Today “Oh yeah, it’s about to be fun.”

Once Wade cleared waivers, following his contract being bought out by Chicago as the team begins a massive rebuilding process, the Cavaliers managed to sign the 12-time All-Star to a one-year, $2.3 million deal.

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The duo won a pair of NBA championships during their four-year run in Miami together, becoming one of the most formidable offensive combinations in league history.

James was named league MVP in 2011-12, won NBA Finals MVP in 2012 and 2013 while averaging 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game alongside Wade in Miami.

During his four seasons as a teammate of James, Wade posted 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals.

For all of the impressive statistics the duo compiled together, the most pressing reason for Wade to join the Cavaliers was an opportunity to compete for a championship.

Dwyane Wade broke down his decision to leave the Bulls to join Cleveland in a statement he wrote for The Players’ Tribune. 

"“There’s no better place to be right now to continue to play and compete at the highest level. Cleveland believes in my talents and what I can bring to a championship contender both as a player and leader. I look forward to reuniting and playing alongside my brother LeBron. We’ve already won two championships together and I hope we win a third.”"

Wade has owns three championship rings, teaming with Shaquille O’Neal to defeat Dallas in 2006, but is ready to collect even more with James.

The scoring and assist numbers have declined for Wade each of the past three seasons, bottoming out with averages of 18.3 points and 3.8 assists per game during his lone season in Chicago.

The 35-year-old adjusted his game, displaying a willingness to shoot from long range with the Bulls, something he resisted during his final years in Miami. Wade knocked down 45 shots from 3-point range, his highest total in six years, at a 31 percent clip — 2.5 percent higher than his career average.

If Wade scores over 1,000 points, he will become just the 16th player in league history to reach the mark 14 times or more in their career.

The Cavaliers expect the bulk of the scoring to come from the forward positions, as James and Kevin Love enter their fourth season together, but there will be plenty of shots available for Wade. The loss of Irving vacated over one third of the total field goals Cleveland compiled last year, as he totaled 1,816 points and 418 assists.

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Despite logging 29.4 points on 47.2 percent shooting from the field and 41.9 percent from 3-point range, Irving wasn’t able to team with James to defeat Golden State in the 2017 NBA Finals.

Irving demanded a trade away from the organization after spending three seasons playing alongside James, but never truly meshing together. Cleveland is counting on Wade to supplement some of the scoring of Irving, while vastly improving the chemistry in the locker room.

Isaiah Thomas, the All-Star point guard the Cavaliers landed in exchange for Irving, is likely out until January, but the team may be able to have him in the lineup a bit earlier. The loss of Thomas to an injured hip opens up more scoring opportunities and provides Wade extended opportunities to have the ball in his hands.

While Wade snapped a streak of 12 consecutive All-Star selections during his lone season with the Bulls, there is little doubt that he can still provide valuable contributions to a championship-caliber team.

https://twitter.com/cavs/status/913172660388978688

Wade will don the No. 9 while in Cleveland, the same number he wore while teaming with James and leading the United State to Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012.

The only number that truly matters to Dwyane Wade is four, as he hopes to team with James to claim the fourth championship in the illustrious career for both players.

Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

Grade: A-

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