Lakers receive financial injury exception for Nash

The news likely comes as little consolation to a team that owns one of the four worst records in the NBA, but the league granted a $4.85 million disabled player exception to the Los Angeles Lakers for point guard Steve Nash on Tuesday.

The Lakers could add a player via trade, free agency or waiver claim for up to $4.85 million.

Los Angeles previously received a $1.5 million exception for injured rookie forward Julius Randle, but the exceptions may not be combined. The amounts cover half of the players’ annual salaries.

The short-handed Lakers are 3-11, a half-game better than the team with the worst record in the Western Conference, the similarly injury-bitten Oklahoma City Thunder.

Nash went down for the season due to a back injury prior to the opener. In the prior two seasons with Los Angeles, he was healthy enough to appear in a total of just 65 games.

In 2013-14, Nash averaged 6.8 points, his lowest figure in 15 years, and 5.7 assists, his lowest mark in 13 years.

For his career, Nash averages 14.3 points and 8.5 assists. He won back-to-back MVP awards in 2004-05 and 2005-06 while playing for the Phoenix Suns.