Philadelphia waives Cam Payne and elevates Dalen Terry to a standard NBA contract. Will the wing be able to contriubute to a playoff-caliber team?
The Philadelphia 76ers latest roster move, reported by Tony Jones, is a sign that the team is thinking beyond the final days of the regular season.
According to the report, the Sixers are converting forward Dalen Terry to a standard NBA contract and waiving guard Cam Payne to make room, which would make Terry eligible for the postseason and any Play-In Tournament games.
The logic behind this move is simple. Terry was down to the last game of his two-way contract, and Philadelphia needed to act before the waiver deadline to keep him available for the rest of the season. Payne had been sidelined with a right hamstring strain and had recently fallen out of the rotation, which made him a more expendable roster piece in the short term.
On paper, Terry offers the kind of low-usage versatility that can fit around Philadelphia's stars. He is a 6'6 wing with a 7'1 wingspan and has shown flashes as a 3&D player, which includes a 36.4% three point percentage and a 1.3 Defensive DPM, which puts him in the 90th percentile league-wide. Terry is only averaging 3.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game this season. However, the more important thing is his profile and what he could do with increased minutes. The 76ers need wing help, and bringing in a switchable, athletic defender with decent shooting touch will go a long way.
The Sixers already have multiple offensive engines and need role players who can defend and space the floor. Terry is not being asked to create offense or take over possessions. He is being brought in to do the smaller things: defend multiple positions, keep the ball moving, and stay ready on a playoff team that needs all the help they can get.
Payne gave Philadelphia steady bench minutes earlier in the season, but his offensive value has declined as the year has progressed. Payne is averaging 7.4 points and 2.6 assists per game, but with his recent injury and reduced role, the team decided that Terry was the more valuable player.
Overall, this is a practical late-season decision. The Sixers are letting go of a veteran guard who was no longer a part of the rotation to keep a younger, athletic wing. If Terry can give them decent minutes in the postseason, the move would be worthwhile.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com.