[Windhorst] OKC can apply for a $14 million disabled player exception and use it to sign or trade for a player. They can only trade for a player with that exception who has one year left on his contract.
posted by u/DynastyInProcess · 2026-10-26 14:52 UTC
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/\_/id/50028196/2026-27-nba-buzz-latest-live-updates-news-intel-trades-deals
"I guess I should put my Bobby Marks' hat on just because what you want in a podcast is you want analysis of this beyond just a visceral response. The Thunder have the ability to apply for a disabled player exception. But let's be honest here, they cannot replace him."
"They'll replace him with what they have on their roster with Ajay Mitchell. He becomes a very important piece right now and the fact that they had to trade away multiple wings over the summer -- Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort ... It comes into play for sure, but his means Ajay Mitchell will have to have a big season and now Cason Wallace, who was just rewarded with a huge contract, those guys will be needed. And you also could see some opportunities for Bennett Stirtz, who actually I think got his first uh NBA basket tonight. So there's probably no team that could withstand an injury like this other than the Thunder.
"They can apply for a disabled player exception, which they will certainly get. They will get, I believe, the full mid-level exception that they can use up to the mid-level exception, which is like, $14-ish million that they can use to to sign a player or trade for a player. They can only trade for a player with that exception who's got one year left on his contract.
Original link: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/%5C_/id/50028196/2026-27-nba-buzz-latest-live-updates-news-intel-trades-deals
## Top comments
1. u/the_cream_dreamer · 2026-10-26 14:59 UTC
Can I interest you in a lightly used Jordan Poole?
2. u/AfroManHighGuy · 2026-10-26 15:07 UTC
OKC can probably use Poole well. He wouldn’t have to be a focal point and can just play his role.
3. u/badhombre13 · 2026-10-26 15:14 UTC
We already have the "no defense, just buckets" player off the bench in McCain though.
Or has Poole's value really tanked so much they can afford him with a lightly used washer and some chips?
4. u/AfroManHighGuy · 2026-10-26 15:16 UTC
His value is low. I think in an offensive scheme like the Thunder, he can thrive. If he can’t play well there, then I think he’s cooked
5. u/InTheMorning_Nightss · 2026-10-26 15:40 UTC
McCain is an off ball mover who looks to get shots off quickly and in the flow of the offense.
Poole has to dribble the air out of the ball first.
The former is basically a Steph light and the other is the classic heavy iso scorer who does nothing else.
6. u/AmusingAnecdote · 2026-10-26 18:16 UTC
Jordan Poole was at his most successful as an off the ball mover who can get shots off and in the flow of the offense. Unfortunately for him he has spent the past few years on the Wizards and Pelicans where they do not have creative offenses. I think he'd still be a respectable 6th man on a team with some offensive juice in their scheme. Even in Washington his last year he put up 38% from 3 on 9 a game. He's just been miscast as an on ball guy and he has the kind of temperament where he's not going to give up the ball unless the scheme really calls for it.
That said, he's making $35M this year so he can't go to OKC anyway.
7. u/StinkRinky · 2026-10-26 15:23 UTC
McCain’s defense is vastly improved this year though. He’s really buying into to the team culture.
8. u/badhombre13 · 2026-10-26 15:31 UTC
It helped he had the whole off-season to train with the team. I noticed he doesn't get lost as easily and is playing the passing lanes very well.
9. u/BlackScienceJesus · 2026-10-26 15:54 UTC
Poole makes $30M. There's literally no combination of OKC salaries that would make sense to trade for him. He's also terrible so yeah.
10. u/diracpointless · 2026-10-26 16:36 UTC
Will his ego allow him to play that though?
(Genuine question, I haven't been following his career lately)
11. u/AfroManHighGuy · 2026-10-26 16:39 UTC
I think he’s been humbled since his warriors days. I hope lol
12. u/ComradeFrunze · 2026-10-26 16:56 UTC
He's not a focal point on the Pels either and he's still trash.
13. u/noBbatteries · 2026-10-26 17:34 UTC
Why get Poole, when McCain already fits that role, and Ajay Mitchel would be a better option already.
Feel like ironically they’d rather use it on a Dort like guy or someone in the 3&D play-style with a bigger frame
14. u/d_wib · 2026-10-26 15:35 UTC
What part of “$14 million exception” did you miss lol
15. u/unknown · 2026-10-26 16:53 UTC
[deleted]
16. u/Mosh00Rider · 2026-10-26 17:27 UTC
It's not meant to be a J-Dub equivalent, it's just them trying to get rid of Poole
17. u/pskill43 · 2026-10-26 15:26 UTC
His salary cannot fit into the 14m exception
18. u/Interesting_Prune513 · 2026-10-26 15:02 UTC
Honestly... Poole in OKC sounds kind of salvagable, although I guess they already have McCain and so it'd be kind of redundant, but I'd still rather have Poole than like Zeke Nnaji lmfao
19. u/penguin_torpedo · 2026-10-26 15:26 UTC
Nah Zeke mf Nnaji covers their need better. With Dort in Atlanta and Jdub injured they have 0 forwards. Seriously am I forgetting somebody? It's all guards and bigs in OKC.
20. u/MarkieDynamite · 2026-10-26 15:40 UTC
Yeah, Kenrich is the only healthy swing i believe, their situation is brutal atm