Chet Holmgren has successful surgery, OKC applies for DPE worth 4.9-million

The Oklahoma City Thunder have lost the new cornerstone of their franchise, Chet Holmgren, for the entirety of his rookie season. After being selected 2nd overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, and showing amazing flashes at the NBA Summer League, Holmgren will not step foot on an NBA floor this season due to a Lisfranc injury in his right foot.

This news impacts the OKC Thunder in a big way from the upcoming season, from win totals to rotational ripple effects, to the development of their hopeful future star. Despite this devastating news, there are examples of other NBA players that missed their first season and then went on to have very successful careers.

The Oklahoma City Thunder issued an update on 2nd overall pick Chet Holmgren, who underwent a foot procedure on Tuesday afternoon

The OKC Thunder sent out a press release to those of us in the media on Tuesday morning with an update on Chet Holmgren. The Gonzaga product underwent a “successful procedure to address a Lisfranc injury in his right foot.” 

The procedure was performed by Dr. Daavid Porter at Forte Sports Medicine and Orthopedics in Carmel, Indiana with Thunder medical personnel present. Porter has performed surgeries on professional athletes before like Taj Gibson, Zach Collins, Udoka Azubuike, Isaiah Livers, Justin Anderson, and Alan Anderson.

The Oklahoma City Thunder also applied for a Disabled Player Exception worth 4.95 million dollars. What this does is allow the Thunder to use 4.95-million dollars this season without having it count against the cap similar to absorbing someone into a Traded Player Exception but not exactly.

To make this simple, the OKC Thunder, if awarded this exception, would be granted 4.95-million dollars but not an additional roster spot. So despite this season-ending injury, the Oklahoma City Thunder will still need to waive three standard NBA contracts.