The Dallas Mavericks have applied for Disabled Player Exceptions for center Dereck Lively II and guard Dante Exum. Both Lively and Exum are expected to miss the remainder of the season. Lively has a foot injury, while Exum is dealing with a knee injury.
If approved, the Mavericks will get a $2.6 million DPE for Lively and a $1.1 million DPE for Exum. A DPE can be used to a sign a player to a rest-of-season contract, with no options beyond the current season. A team can also trade for a player and claim a player off waivers whose contract fits inside of the DPE amount, but that contract must be an expiring deal with no options.
In addition to the above restrictions, Dallas is currently just less than $1.3 million under their second-apron hard cap. The Mavs can’t sign a player and fit them in under that hard cap until January 6. The Mavericks also would need to create a roster spot to sign a player, as a DPE does not create an additional roster spot.