Thunder apply for disabled-player exception in wake of Chet Holmgren injury

The Thunder have applied to the NBA for a disabled-player exception worth $4.95M due to the season-ending loss of Chet Holmgren, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The DPE allows a team to sign a player without using cap space. In order for the exception to be granted, an NBA-designated physician must determine that the player is “substantially more likely than not” to be sidelined through at least June 15 of that league year.

If granted, the disabled-player exception allows a club to sign a replacement player for 50% of the injured player’s salary, or for the amount of the non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception, whichever is lesser.

Holmgren has a $9,891,240 salary in his rookie year.

Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2022 draft, will miss his entire rookie season after suffering a right foot injury. The 20-year-old will undergo surgery in the coming weeks and is expected to make a full recovery by the start of 2023-24.

The injury took place during a Seattle pro-am that was later called off due to unsafe (slippery) court conditions.