Sixers Waive Dalen Terry

The news was expected, as Philadelphia is hard-capped at the first apron and didn’t have enough room beneath that threshold to finalize the signings of LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Waiving Terry will enable the team to add one of those players, but the Sixers will have to make another move to sign both.

The only other player who’s on a typical standard contract that’s non-guaranteed (it’s technically a $250K partial guarantee) is Jabari Walker. The 76ers could waive (or trade) him and create the room necessary to sign James and Caldwell-Pope, or they may look to move a player like Johni Broome, who’s $2.2MM cap hit is guaranteed.

Releasing Broome and using the stretch provision to spread his cap hit over the next seven years ($307K annually) is another option for the Sixers. The former Auburn big man is under contract through 2028/29, but only ’26/27 is guaranteed.

Terry spent his first three-and-a-half seasons with Chicago. After being traded twice and then waived by New Orleans in February, he caught on with Philadelphia on a two-way deal after clearing waivers, then was converted a two-year standard contract in April.

An Arizona native who played two years of college ball for the Wildcats, Terry was selected 18th overall in the 2022 draft. While he was reportedly popular in the Sixers’ locker room, he has yet to establish himself as a rotation player in the NBA, averaging 3.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 218 career appearances (11.2 minutes per game).

Terry will be an unrestricted free agent in a couple days if he clears the waiver wire. Since he has four years of NBA experience, he’s no longer eligible for a two-way contract.