According to NBA.com's David Aldridge, the Indiana Pacers will apply for a disabled player exception in the wake of Paul George’s horrid leg injury, which is a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula.
The Pacers are able to apply for the exception between now and January 15. Once an application is sent, a physician will examine Paul George to determine if he will be out for the entire 2014-15 NBA season or not. George is, however, expected to miss the whole season, so that should not be a problem.
The Pacers can either receive 50 percent of George’s salary for next season or the full midlevel exception of $5.3 million, whichever one is the lowest. With George’s contract being a max deal, the midlevel exception is the lowest, and the Pacers can choose to use that money on a costless agent or save it.
If Indiana does use the money to sign a costless agent, the team will go over the luxury tax, which Larry Bird has mentioned before that they do not plan on exceeding the luxury tax.
However, the Pacers have made a strong push for costless agent forward Shawn Marion, but Marion is leaning toward signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers instead. Indiana has interest in MarShon Brooks and Gary Forbes as well. Brooks is unfortunately closing in on an overseas contract with Olimpia Milano Armani.
Indiana may still look for a costless agent to fill in the void for Paul George, but it may be a player who would accept the league’s minimum.