Since the open of NBA free agency, the Golden State Warriors have been active with the additions of Brad Wanamaker and Kent Bazemore. The Warriors were also able to land Kelly Oubre Jr. in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
However, rebuilding a rotation without a player like Klay Thompson isn’t an easy task. To help, the Golden State Warriors applied to the NBA for a Disabled Player Exception.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Warriors have been granted a $9.3 million DPE due to Thompson’s season-ending injury.
The DPE will allow Golden State to sign a player to a one-year contract, trade for someone with one year left on their deal or claim a player on waivers with one year remaining. Any move the Warriors decide to make will need to be under the DPE’s $9.3 million amount. The $9.3 million total is the maximum value for a DPE.
The exception is set to expire on April 19.
Via @ShamsCharania on Twitter:
The Golden State Warriors have been granted a Disabled Player Exception worth $9.3 million due to the season-ending loss of Klay Thompson, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. It expires on April 19.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 26, 2020
With several expensive contracts on the books and the first wave of free agency coming to a close, there’s a chance the Warriors opt to hold onto the exception until the season starts.
Having an option like the DPE will give Golden State the opportunity to monitor potential trades and the free-agent buyout market without a significant impact on payroll.
Although Thompson is slated to miss his second consecutive season with a significant injury, a roster with Steph Curry, Draymond Green, James Wiseman, Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins still has potential. Adding another proven player with the $9.3 million exception could play a role in Golden State’s run back to the Western Conference postseason.
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