The Thunder will still apply, even though it most likely won't matter that much.
Chet Holmgren, the No. 2 pick, is out for the season due to a ruptured ligament in his foot. Therefore the Thunder are requesting a handicapped player exception for him. Shams Charania of The Athletic announced the news.
The Thunder receive a salary cap exception (equivalent to half of Holmgren's salary) thanks to the disabled player exception rather than a roster slot, as Holmgren will not be playing for OKC this year. This is more of a "just in case" application, allowing the Thunder to sign or acquire a player through trade if they want around the deadline because they already have a full roster for the season.
To restore the ligaments that support the Lisfranc joint in the center of the foot, Holmgren will undergo surgery (where the long bones of the toes meet the bones of the rest of the foot, in the arch area). The region, which bears weight and aids in stabilizing the foot, is referred to as the "lynchpin" of the foot by Jeff Stotts of InStreetClothes.com.
Sam Presti, the general manager of the Thunder, said, "We are very disappointed for Chet, especially considering the excitement he had about getting on the floor with his teammates this season." We know that Chet has a promising future in our company and the Oklahoma City neighborhood. His perseverance and dedication were two qualities that stood out to us as we chose Chet. As we collaborate and assist him during his recovery, we anticipate that the same persistence will see him through this time.
At Summer League, Holmgren made an impression by displaying his superb shooting touch, handling, and rim defense. He and Josh Giddey developed natural chemistry that gave Thunder supporters genuine optimism for the future—hope that has since been put on hold for the season.
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