A Trail Blazers traded player exception created in last July’s Allen Crabbe trade with the Nets is set to expire if it’s not used by the end of the day on Wednesday. The exception, which is worth $12,969,502, was created last July 25.
[RELATED: Outstanding NBA Traded Player Exceptions]
As we explain in our glossary entry on the subject, traded player exceptions can be used to acquire one or more players whose salaries fits within the amount of the exception (plus $100K). Using their TPE, the over-the-cap Blazers wouldn’t have to send out any salary if they were to acquire a player earning $13MM.
While most traded player exceptions ultimately go unused, this one is noteworthy since it’s the second-largest TPE in the NBA. Only the Nuggets have a slightly more valuable trade exception.
Additionally, Portland president of basketball operations Neil Olshey suggested back in May that the team had perhaps been too “protective” of assets like draft picks and this trade exception, hinting that perhaps the club would find a use for it this summer.
Still, there has been no indication that a move is imminent, and given the Trail Blazers’ salary situation – they’re currently several million dollars over the tax line – it seems unlikely that they’ll make a significant move this week. Acquiring a player without sending out any salary themselves would cost the Blazers exponentially more in projected tax penalties.
They should go all in, try to get a good player to try to compete, come on Dame deserves to have a shot, but I am not sure Allen likes to spend any money, quite thrifty he is, so probably will go unused… Oh well another year…