The Rockets plan to apply for a Disabled Player Exception following Fred VanVleet’s season-ending knee injury, according to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports.
If approved, the exception would be worth $12.5 million, or half of VanVleet’s $25 million salary. Under the CBA, it allows a team to sign, trade for, or claim a player on a one-year deal worth up to that amount without using cap space.
To qualify, an NBA-appointed doctor must determine that VanVleet is “substantially more likely than not” to be sidelined through at least June 15, which appears to be the case.
VanVleet underwent ACL surgery on his right knee just over a month ago and is expected to miss the entire season.
The veteran guard met with reporters Monday for the first time since the injury and admitted the timing stung.
“I was probably in the best shape of my life,” VanVleet said, via Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle. “Just super excited about getting off to a good start. So it was definitely disheartening to get hurt at that stage before the season.”
VanVleet, 30, signed with Houston in 2023 and has served as the team’s floor general for the past two seasons. He said there’s no set timeline for his recovery, but he’s confident about what comes next.
“I’m gonna come back a much better person and player,” he said. “The rehab’s slow –learning to walk again, taking baby steps. But building yourself back from ground zero makes you stronger. I have no doubt I’ll come back better.”
VanVleet holds a $25 million player option for next season.
