Lakers Granted $1.75 Million Disabled Player Exception For DeMarcus Cousins Injury
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into the 2019-20 NBA season, there was great optimism for the Los Angeles Lakers, especially with DeMarcus Cousins signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal.

Unfortunately, Cousins suffered a torn ACL injury during a workout and the Mobile Police Department issued an arrest warrant on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge.

As the Lakers signed Dwight Howard to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal as Cousins’ replacement, they recently applied for a $1.75 million disabled player exception.

With Cousins expected to miss the entire season, the NBA has granted the Lakers the disabled player exception, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic:

Due to Cousins’ salary, there are limitations to what the Lakers can do, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report:

The Lakers can use the disabled player exception to sign a free agent or claim a player off waivers with a salary up to $1.75 million or in trade up to $1.85 million. But it contains a crucial limitation: The player cannot be under contract beyond the 2019-20 season.

While the Lakers can waive Cousins now, they would lose the disabled player exception under two scenarios:

As long as the disabled player exception is awarded first, the team can still waive Cousins without losing it. If L.A. trades him, or he returns to play, the exception will evaporate immediately. The bigger question is: Who can the Lakers acquire with such a small exception?

At $1.75 million, the team’s options are limited as a player with more than five years of NBA experience would receive more than that on a minimum salary ($1.88 million).

As general manager Rob Pelinka and company made the right decision, all of the attention is on Cousins’ future in Los Angeles. While there were high expectations for Cousins, the circumstances have significantly changed.

Although the Lakers have a championship-contending roster, they could use another small forward to back up LeBron James. While Andre Iguodala would be ideal, the Memphis Grizzlies have not changed their stance yet.

With more opportunities to improve their 2020 NBA Finals odds, the Lakers have an interesting situation ahead with no roster spots remaining following the Howard signing.

You May Also Like

Kobe Bryant, 2020 Hall Of Fame Class Enshrinement Rescheduled For May 2021

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 2020 enshrinement ceremony activities have been…

Lakers News: Xavier Henry Seeks Second Opinion On Knee

After a successful first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Xavier Henry’s…

Los Angeles Lakers Sign Quincy Olivari & Kylor Kelley

The Los Angeles Lakers announced that they have signed guard Quincy Olivari and center Kylor Kelley…

Lethargic Lakers Lose to Pacers; Fall to 13-4

After just their third loss of the season on Friday the Lakers…