Washington Wizards: 3 free agents to target with the DPE

Can the Washington Wizards use their newly awarded disabled player exception to find some much-needed help?

The Washington Wizards have been one of the unluckiest teams in the NBA this season. Their blockbuster offseason acquisition — Russell Westbrook — started things off with an injured quad. Davis Bertans started the season out of shape after signing an $80 million deal. Six games were postponed in January. Half of the team went into health and safety protocol. The whole thing’s been a mess.

But none of those things were as devastating as losing Thomas Bryant to an ACL injury after just ten games; ten games in which Bryant was balling out, too. To help soften the blow of Bryant’s season-ending injury, the Washington Wizards were granted a disabled player exception worth $4.16 million. It is not much, but it is something.

The Wizards can use the DPE to acquire a replacement player in one of three ways:  through free agency, waivers, or a trade. If the Wizards go the waiver-wire or trade route, they must acquire a player in the final year of their deal. A free agent can only be added for the single year of the exception.

The Wizards are far from being one player away, but there are some worthwhile free agents in the $4.16 million price range that could help the Wizards out. These options aren’t the cream of the crop,  but they could fill crucial roles for the Wizards and are worth taking a look at.

Here are three free agents the Washington Wizards could target with the disabled player exception.