The NBA has granted the Heat a disabled player exception in response to the season-ending injury suffered by Josh McRoberts, Joseph Goodman of The Miami Herald reports (Twitter link). The exception will be valued at approximately $2.65MM, or half of McRoberts’ $5.3MM salary for the 2014/15 season, Goodman notes. Miami has until March 10th to use this exception on a player whose price tag fits into that allotment, whether it be through free agency or trade. The Heat currently have 15 players on their roster, which means that they would have to waive or deal someone prior to adding another player.
McRoberts parlayed a career year with Charlotte last season, on in which he averaged 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 30.3 minutes per game, into a four-year, $22.652MM contract with Miami this summer. The Heat gave him a deal equivalent to the non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception with the hope that he would become useful rotation piece. McRoberts had passed up a comparable deal from the Hornets that the team had made in response to Miami’s offer to the big man.
Offseason toe surgery slowed McRoberts to begin the regular season, and after missing the first seven contests, he only managed 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game for the Heat prior to suffering a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. McRoberts’ career averages are 5.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 2.1 APG. His career slash line is .478/.345/.707.