What happened: Philadelphia waived Dalen Terry to accommodate the James signing under the first-apron hard cap. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is excluded from the current calculation.
Why it matters: The cushion keeps the completed signing within NBA payroll rules. Caldwell-Pope’s addition requires further cap accounting before Philadelphia finalizes its roster.
By the numbers: Philadelphia has $2,012,784 in apron room. The $2,449,421 veteran exception is $436,637 larger than that cushion.
What to watch: The updated payroll after Caldwell-Pope is added will determine Philadelphia’s remaining flexibility.