NBA Rumors: Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks granted Disabled Player Exception

The NBA has granted two more teams a Disabled Player Exception (DPE) to replace an injured player on their roster. According to Adrian Wajnarowski, both the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks have been granted the exception by the NBA to replace Al Horford and Carlos Delfino, respectively.

Both players appear to be out for the year, as Horford as injured earlier in the year and definitely won’t be back in 2014 while the Bucks are seemingly giving up on Delfino returning to the lineup before the end of the season. The exception makes sense for the Hawks, as they now have a $5.15 DPE, which is worth roughly the same as as mid-level exception, to go out and sign a free agent for the remainder of the season. Atlanta needs some help too as they’re clinging to the three-seed in the Eastern Conference and don’t want to allow the Horford injury to hold them back.

For Milwaukee, the move makes a little less sense, as virtually everyone is accepting the fact that Milwaukee is tanking this year for a top lottery pick. But while Atlanta’s DPE is for $5.15 million thanks to Al Horford’s $12 million salary, the Bucks will only be getting a $1.63 million due to Delfino’s smaller salary.