Indiana Pacers seek to exploit two disabled player exceptions for roster improvements
- The Indiana Pacers have received Disabled Player Exceptions due to Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman's injuries.
- Each exception allows the Pacers to address roster challenges through trades or signings within specific salary limits.
- The Pacers need to strategically navigate their roster and financials to effectively utilize these exceptions by the March 10 deadline.
In Indianapolis, the Indiana Pacers, an NBA team, faced significant challenges due to injuries affecting their roster. Earlier in the season, Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, both centers, suffered severe injuries. Wiseman suffered a torn Achilles on opening night, while Jackson sustained a similar injury on November 1. These injuries prompted the Pacers to apply for and receive two Disabled Player Exceptions (DPE) from the league, which are essential tools for teams managing significant player absences. These exceptions allow the Pacers to add new players to their roster without exceeding the salary cap, as long as they meet specific criteria regarding salary limitations and contract lengths. For Jackson's absence, they can spend up to $2.218 million, while for Wiseman's injury, the amount is set at $1.119 million. However, the Pacers face the difficulty of having a full 15-player roster. To take advantage of the DPEs, they must either trade or release a current player. Additionally, the team's financial situation has tightened as they approach the luxury tax threshold, limiting their ability to add salary until some contracts prorate down. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has expressed hope for bringing in additional help, stating that the team might need to play smaller until they can add a new big man. Meanwhile, both players' DPEs will expire on March 10 of next year if not utilized. As injuries persist, the Pacers must strategically use these exceptions to improve their chances this season.