Former Bulls First-Rounder Waived as 76ers Sign LeBron James

LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers over the weekend unfortunately left former Chicago Bulls first-round pick Dalen Terry out of the picture.

The 76ers waived Terry on Sunday, marking what could be the end of his NBA career for now.

Selected by the Bulls with the 18th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Terry entered the league after a strong season at Arizona. At the time, there was plenty to like about his game. He was an athletic wing with good size, defensive potential and the type of energy that could make him a valuable NBA player.

Unfortunately, Terry never really got the opportunity to establish himself in Chicago.

Most of his time with the Bulls was spent in a bench role, with consistent minutes only coming when injuries forced him into the rotation. While he struggled to produce consistently on the floor, Terry was an excellent teammate off of it. His energy was infectious, often getting hyped for big plays and great efforts from his teammates.

Even when the production was not always there, Terry brought a level of energy that could disrupt the flow of a game. There was always something entertaining about watching him play, even if his production did not always match the excitement he brought to the court.

After three seasons in Chicago, Terry was traded to the New York Knicks for Guerschon Yabusele. A second trade sent him to the New Orleans Pelicans before he was eventually waived and picked up by the 76ers as a free agent.

Philadelphia did not provide Terry with much more of an opportunity. He rarely saw the floor with the NBA club and spent most of his time playing for the Delaware Blue Coats, the team's G League affiliate.

Now, with James joining the 76ers, Terry has been waived once again.

His story is certainly unfortunate. After being selected in the first round, many hoped Terry would become more than what he has been so far in his NBA career.

At the same time, Terry's story may reveal a deeper developmental problem within the NBA.

Young players are no longer getting the same amount of time to develop that they once did. The amount of talent in the basketball world has grown tremendously, and teams are constantly looking for players who can contribute immediately.

As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for young players to grow into the players their teams hoped they could become.

Even five years ago, first-round picks were often given ample time and opportunity to develop before teams moved on from them. Now, that timeline seems to be speeding up. If a young player cannot immediately contribute, teams can often find a veteran or another young player who appears more ready to help right now.

Few players exemplify that issue better than Terry.

When the Bulls drafted him, he was not a finished product. He had athleticism, energy and intriguing defensive potential, but still needed time to develop his offensive game and find his place at the NBA level.

That is the case for many first-round picks. Teams draft players based on what they believe they can become, not necessarily because they are already finished products.

The problem is that teams are becoming less willing to wait for that development.

Rather than receiving a consistent opportunity to prove whether he could become the player the Bulls hoped he would be, Terry bounced between teams, rotations and the G League while the league continued to become more talented.

NBA expansion could be one of the best ways to address that problem.

The addition of two new teams would create thirty more NBA roster spots for players like Terry. More importantly, it would give young players more opportunities to develop instead of being pushed out of the league by players who are more ready to contribute immediately.

Terry's NBA career may not be over. At just twenty-four years old, there is still plenty of time for him to find another opportunity.

Still, his story is a reminder that the NBA may need to create more opportunities for young players to grow.

Sometimes, a player does not need to be given up on.

Sometimes, he just needs more time and opportunity.