The Rockets plan to apply for a hardship exception! The amount could reach $12.5 million, and VanVleet is expected to miss the season.

On October 28th Beijing time, as reported by Kelly Iko, because of VanVleet's knee injury, the Rockets are planning to file for a hardship exception. Should it be accepted, its value will be $12.5 million, equal to half of VanVleet’s $25 million yearly salary.

The Rockets can utilize this exception to sign a player to a contract not exceeding the exception’s value, without it affecting their salary cap. This can be used to sign a one-year contract player, acquire a player with only one year left on their contract via trade, or claim a waived player in the final year of their deal.

It is reported that the Rockets’ application requires approval from an NBA-appointed physician, who must determine that the player is “highly likely” to be unable to play before June 15 of the current season. Over a month ago, VanVleet underwent surgery to repair a torn right ACL and is expected to miss the entire season. He was injured during offseason training in the Bahamas, having been in peak physical condition prior to the injury.

Recently, VanVleet told the Houston Chronicle, “I was really looking forward to the new season and was in the best shape of my career. I was especially eager to get off to a good start, so getting injured at this stage before the season was truly frustrating.”

As the Rockets’ starting point guard over the past two seasons, VanVleet currently has no definite timetable for return. “There’s no schedule, just taking it day by day, progressing slowly. We’ll definitely monitor week by week, day by day, and reassess recovery at season’s end.”

VanVleet holds a $25 million player option for next season, and his goal is to return to the court in better condition.

VanVleet said, “I plan to come back in better personal shape, at a higher player level, and with more maturity in every aspect. That’s how I approach things and who I am. Recovery is very slow, and you realize many things you took for granted, like learning to walk again, step by step like a toddler. So rebuilding myself from scratch, I have no doubt I will become a more complete and better player and person.”

The Rockets lost their first two games of the new season, narrowly falling 124-125 in double overtime to the Thunder and 111-115 to the Pistons. Their third game will be against the Nets.