Report: Pacers to apply for disabled player exception following George's injury
In hoping to recuperate for the upcoming season without superstar Paul George, the Indiana Pacers will reportedly apply for a disabled player exception.
Pacers will apply 4 Disabled Player Exception to replace Paul George, per source. Can sign free agent for 1yr at $5.3M.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) August 7, 2014
Since George's horrific injury will likely bar him from playing next season, the exception would grant the Pacers to sign one player to a deal worth up the lower of 50 percent of George's deal (worth $15.7 million next season) or the non-tax payer mid-level exception. In this case, the latter would be granted.
The downside for the Pacers, however, is that the vast majority of free agents have already signed. Having lost their main ball-handlers in Lance Stephenson and George, the Pacers would undoubtedly be looking to add a playmaker from the perimeter.
However, they may likely have to settle for a player like Shawn Marion, who can at least replicate some of George's defensive ability. Marion has drawn interest from a number of teams, but he'd be hard-pressed to find a figure better than the Pacers' exception.