The Charlotte Hornets have been granted a $6.5 million Disabled Player Exception (DPE) for power forward Grant Williams’ season-ending knee injury, sources informed ESPN’s Bobby Marks on Thursday. The deadline to use the exception is March 10, 2025.
Charlotte Hornets have until March 10, 2025, to sign, acquire, or claim a player who’s in the last year of his contract
Per Spotrac, a disabled player exception affords an NBA team spending power when it loses a player to a season-ending injury. The exception is worth either half of the injured player’s salary or the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, whichever is lesser.
Charlotte was granted a $6.5 million Disabled Player Exception because Williams’ 2024-25 salary is $13.02 million. This is part of the four-year, $53.34 million contract he signed with the Boston Celtics. The deal was part of a sign-and-trade agreement with the Dallas Mavericks.
The Charlotte Hornets have been granted a $6.5M Disabled Player Exception, sources tell ESPN.
The exception was granted for the season ending Grant Williams injury.
The deadline to use the exception is March 10.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 5, 2024
In order to use the Disabled Player Exception, the NBA team must have a roster spot available. The player signed, acquired, or claimed has to be in the last year of their contract.
A DPE is typically used by teams to sign a player to a rest-of-season contract. The remainder-of-season condition also exists in trades and waiver claims. The exception is meant for one player and can only be utilized for a one-year deal.
Grant Williams suffered season-ending tears to the ACL, meniscus, and associated ligaments in his right knee last month
Williams, 26, sustained season-ending tears to the ACL, meniscus, and associated ligaments in his right knee late in the fourth quarter of Charlotte’s 125-119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 23.
With under four minutes remaining, the 6-foot-6 Williams was driving the ball to the paint and then bumped into Milwaukee center Brook Lopez, lost his footing, and went down to the floor, immediately grabbing his knee in pain.
In 16 games (seven starts) this season, Williams averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 29.9 minutes per contest. Plus, he shot 43.9% from the floor, 36.5% from 3-point range, and 83.8% at the free throw line.
Williams scored a season-high 17 points in a 138-133 win over the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 30 and in a 107-105 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 10.
The Tennessee product joined Charlotte in a trade deadline deal with the Dallas Mavericks last season.
Dallas also sent Seth Curry and a 2027 first-round draft pick to the Hornets. In exchange, Charlote received P.J. Washington, a 2024 second-round draft pick, and a 2028 second-rounder.
