The Trail Blazers recently applied for the $2.85 million exception available to replace the injured Rodney Hood. How can they use this to their advantage?
In a devastating blow to the Trail Blazers hopes, Rodney Hood tore his Achilles at the start of December. It’s likely Hood wont be back this year so the Blazers can now get some injury relief that will come in the form of a $2.85 million exception they can use to sign a free agent.
Though there aren’t obvious free agents available to sign, the buyout market may have some strong candidates this season. Being able to bring in a combo forward who can play both sides of the ball would be a huge win for this team.
The other positive of bringing in a player from the buyout market would be that they would get them on the minimum and they would only be paid a pro-rated salary. With the Blazers deep in the luxury tax, a cheap salary only paid based on being with the team four of five months would be ideal.
The $2.85 million can still be used a whole salary, and is available for the team unless Hood returns this season. If Hood was to return, which isn’t looking likely, they would need to release the player they had signed with it.
The application is simple and will be likely be granted without question by the league.
When it is granted there a few notable names that could hit the buyout market and be ideal for the Blazers if they choose to go down this route
Marvin Williams
Marvin Williams has already made $109 million in his career and has languished on a Hornets team where he has only made the playoffs once in eight long years. He has a $15 million salary this year and may be able to give back half of this and then sign with a team for $1 million to get some of this money back. Williams can help on both ends of the court, and would be a nice fit off the bench behind Carmelo Anthony
Derrick Favors
Derrick Favors has a larger salary than Williams but would be a great two-way addition for the Blazers. He is owed $17.5 million but at 28 still may have one great pay-day left to add to the $83 million he has earnt in his career. Favors is a great defender who may not want to be stuck on a New Orleans Pelicans team that may end up languishing in the lottery. Like Williams he may be able to give half of this salary back then recoup some of it on his new tea.
This exception could come in handy to sign someone on the buyout market or in free agency. Sadly they may not be the calibre of Rodney Hood, but if the Blazers are in playoff contention they may still be able to get a solid player.