Los Angeles Lakers rumors: Team applies for disabled player exception

Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve DeMarcus Cousins, as the team applied for a disabled player exception because of the injury he suffered.

With the offseason winding down and training camp still a few weeks away, there haven’t been many Los Angeles Lakers rumors. There were a few Lakers rumors in August involving the team’s center position because of the unfortunate injury to DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins tore his ACL while working out, which left a big hole on the team’s roster. Cousins was working hard to come back from a torn quad suffered in the first round of the playoffs against the LA Clippers. It was the second serious injury Cousins had suffered in just over a year, as hid 2018-19 season was delayed because of an Achilles injury suffered in Jan. 2018.

Lakers rumors picked up after that as the team needed to find a replacement. An open roster spot was being held, reportedly, for Andre Iguodala in hopes that the Memphis Grizzlies would buy him out.

The Grizzlies bought out a veteran, but it wasn’t Iguodala. The team agreed to a buyout with Dwight Howard, who joined the purple and gold on a non-guaranteed deal and filled their final roster spot.

It seemed as if the Lakers‘ roster was set, bearing Howard being released. However, that may not be the case.

Since Cousins is expected to miss the 2019-20 season with the torn ACL, the Lakers are looking to open up that roster spot. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Lakers have applied for a disabled players exception from the NBA for $1.75 million.

This is a big decision for the Lakers. If the NBA grants them the exception, they retain that open roster spot that they lost when they signed Howard. If they can get that exception, they will become players on the buyout market in February.

Right now, that $1.75 million represents less money than a minimum contract. However, that exception will not prorate as a contract will. It could give them a huge advantage as they could potentially offer a 10-year veteran who is bought out nearly three times what the minimum for them would normally be.

While the team has their eyes on Iguodala, there will assuredly be other veterans that are bought out during the season. Los Angeles could have a monetary edge over other contending teams to land one of those sought after veterans.

The injury to Cousins was an unfortunate one, but the Lakers have done well trying to fill the hole left. Howard was a good start and if they get the exception, adding another veteran down the road becomes a real possibility.