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The Golden State Warriors road back to championship contention took a massive hit with Klay Thompson suffering a torn Achilles during a pickup game in Los Angeles. With Thompson about to miss his second-consecutive season, general manager Bob Myers will try to lessen the void through free agency.
Golden State can apply for a $9.3 million injury exception to sign a player on the open market.
Golden State will now apply for the Disabled Player Exception worth $9.3M.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 19, 2020
The exception can be used to sign, trade for or claim a player to a one-year contract.
The exception expires on April 17.
Myers already has the $17.2 million trade exception from the Andre Iguodala deal, but that will expire on Nov. 23, plus the Dubs can use their $5.7 million mid-level exception to pursue free agents when the transaction period begins Friday at 3 p.m. PT.
The Warriors found out about Thompson’s injury just hours before they selected big man James Wiseman with the second overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft. The franchise’s vision was to return to championship contention with a core of Thompson, Wiseman, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins leading the way.
Thompson’s injury is a massive setback to those plans. There is no way to make up for his loss, but at the very least, this gives Myers another avenue to try and add another veteran for the 2020-21 season.