Indiana Pacers granted disabled player exception

During a Team USA scrimmage just 10 days, Indiana Pacers’ star forward Paul George suffered an open tibia-fibula fracture. He has already had surgery on the leg and he will now likely miss the entire 2014-2015 season.

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According to Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports, the Pacers have been granted the disabled players exception by the NBA and can now spend up to $5.3 million on a free or $5.4 on a player through a trade (although as Agness points out, it is really only $1.7 million).

"The Indiana Pacers received word Tuesday afternoon that they have been granted the disabled player exception by the NBA, a team spokesman confirmed to VigilantSports.com. The exception, applied for after Paul George’s leg injury suffered during a USA Basketball scrimmage, allows the team to sign another player in his absence.The Pacers can spend up to $5.3 million on a free agent, or $5.4 million on a player acquired in a trade who is on the last year of his deal. However, they really only have about $1.7 million to offer because they will not go into the luxury tax."

Then, they will now have 45 days to acquire a replacement. One player they have been talking to is Dallas mavericks’ free agent forward Shawn Marion, who had a face-to-face meeting with Pacers’ president Larry Bird on Monday.

George averaged 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals per while shooting 42.4% from the field, 36.4% from beyond the arc and 86.4% from the charity stripe. In the postseason, he put up 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game while shooting 43.8% from the field, 40.3% from three and 78.9% from the free throw line.

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