Clippers apply for injury exception due to Beal's season-ending status: $2.677 million cap, salary reduction required to utilize

On November 22nd Beijing time, as reported by Jake Fischer, the Los Angeles Clippers have filed for an injury exception due to Bradley Beal’s season-ending hip injury.

According to NBA regulations, if a player’s injury is assessed to likely sideline them past June 15th of the league season, the team qualifies to request an injury exception. Beal was diagnosed last week with a hip fracture, which is expected to meet the criteria for this application.

The injury exception does not grant an additional roster spot but provides some salary cap flexibility. With this exception, the team can sign players with expiring contracts through trades or claims, or offer a one-year deal to free agents.

The amount for the injury exception is calculated as the lower of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception or half of the injured player’s salary. Since Beal’s salary cap figure this season is $5.354 million, well below the non-taxpayer mid-level exception threshold, the Clippers’ injury exception amount is set at $2.677 million.

The Clippers have already fully utilized their mid-level exception this season and, having used the bi-annual exception in 2024-25, cannot activate it again this year. This means the injury exception could be particularly useful, potentially allowing the team to sign free agents earning above the veteran minimum or trade for players with salaries near the minimum.

However, the Clippers face a challenge: their current salary is only $1.28 million below the hard salary cap at the luxury tax threshold. NBA teams cannot exceed the hard cap under any circumstances, so even if the league approves the injury exception for Beal, the Clippers can only use up to $1.28 million of it unless they reduce their existing salary commitments by other means.

The deadline to use the injury exception is March 10th.