The Los Angeles Lakers just gained a little bit of flexibility to add some help. Before the season, it was announced that Steve Nash would miss the entire year with recurring back problems. Now, the Lakers have been granted a disabled-player exception by the NBA worth $4.85 million, half of Nash’s salary, according to multiple reports.
With the exception, the Lakers can sign any player for up to that amount. They’ve lost three players already to season-ending injuries: Nash, rookie power forward Julius Randle (who suffered a broken leg in the Lakers’ first game of the season) and Xavier Henry, who suffered a ruptured Achilles this week.
The Lakers have been awarded a $4.85 million disabled player exception for Steve Nash according to a league source.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) November 26, 2014
Can confirm @WindhorstESPN report that NBA granted Lakers the $4.85 million disabled player exception for Steve Nash
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 26, 2014
With the exception, the Lakers can sign any player for up to that amount. They’ve lost three players already to season-ending injuries: Nash, rookie power forward Julius Randle (who suffered a broken leg in the Lakers’ first game of the season) and Xavier Henry, who suffered a ruptured Achilles this week.
The Lakers are 3-11 on the season, and it’s unclear who they could sign that could make enough of an impact to turn around their season. Any help they can get would be much needed.