Following the recent news that No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren will miss the entire 2022-23 season due to a Lisfranc fracture, the Oklahoma City Thunder applied for a $4.95 million disabled player exception, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
If approved, the disabled player exception does not create an additional roster spot for the Thunder. Instead, it will create a salary cap exception and give the Thunder extra spending money — nearly $5 million in this case.
NBA teams usually apply and get granted this exception when a player suffers a season-ending injury. For the Thunder, it gives them extra breathing room with their cap. Whether the Thunder use the option or not, it’s a nice little trick to have with their payroll.
