Rockets Will Seek $12.5M Disabled Player Exception After VanVleet’s ACL Injury
rockets-disabled-player-exception-vanvleet
The Houston Rockets intend to request a $12.5 million Disabled Player Exception (DPE) because of point guard Fred VanVleet’s season-ending knee injury, according to Yahoo Sports reporter Kelly Iko.
Under the current collective bargaining agreement, a DPE equals 50 percent of the injured player’s salary—in this case, VanVleet’s $25 million 2025-26 figure. If the league approves the petition, Houston could:
- Sign a free agent to a one-year deal worth up to $12.5 million,
- Trade for a player in the final year of his contract whose salary fits the exception, or
- Claim a player on waivers who is also in the last year of his deal.
For the exception to be granted, an NBA-appointed physician must rule that VanVleet is “substantially more likely than not” to be sidelined through at least June 15, 2026. The 31-year-old guard underwent surgery more than a month ago to repair a torn ACL in his right knee and is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign.
VanVleet spoke with reporters Monday for the first time since the operation, saying he was in peak condition before the injury occurred during an offseason workout in the Bahamas. “I probably was in the best shape of my life,” he told the media, including the Houston Chronicle. He added that there is no set timetable for his return, noting the process is “day-by-day” and “week-by-week.”
The two-time All-Star holds a $25 million player option for 2026-27. Despite the setback, he expressed confidence about his future, vowing to come back “a more complete, better player and person.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
