The Miami Heat received some much needed financial flexibility in Jan. through the NBA’s disabled player exception. That exception expires today and it appears that it will go unused.
After small forward Justise Winslow tore a labrum in his right shoulder in Jan. the Heat applied for the exception. It would allow Miami the ability to sign a free agent to a salary of up to $1.3 million for the rest of the season, trade for a player who is in the final year of his contract if it is worth $1.3 million or less, or claim a player from waivers whose contract is the same as the exception or less as long as the player is in the final year of his contract as well.
The exception is worth half of the disabled player’s salary, in this case, 50 percent of Winslow’s $2.6 million dollar salary for the season. Miami has a full 15 man roster and it appears they have not felt the need to exercise the exception. If they decided to add a player after today, the Heat would have to release a player to make more room.
Former starting power forward Chris Bosh is as of now taking up one of the 15 roster spots in spite of the fact that he has been far from the team since Sept after battling complications of blood clots. The Heat will be expected to part ways with him this upcoming summer and will apply for a salary cap relief
