Lakers to apply for hardship exception

Charlotte, N.C. — The Lakers will apply for a hardship exception after Ronnie Price missed the past four games because of a season-ending injury to his right elbow.

Assuming the NBA grants the Lakers the exception, they could add a 16th player to their roster because the Lakers already have season-long absences to Kobe Bryant (right shoulder), Steve Nash (back), Julius Randle (right knee) and Xavier Henry (left Achilles). The Lakers (16-42) could look to their own Development League affiliate, the D-fenders, or the general free agent pool. But the Lakers are unlikely to add any players to their team, according to an NBA source familiar with the Lakers’ front office’s thinking.

The Lakers were previously given a hardship exception when Ryan Kelly sat out because of hamstring injuries, but they declined to use the tool. The Lakers also have disabled player exceptions for Nash ($4.9 million) and Randle ($1.5 million), but it seems unlikely they would use those exceptions before they expire on March 10.

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com