With Steve Nash going to the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwight Howard wanting to create a superstar team in Brooklyn with the Nets, everyone’s criticizing the recent and latest CBA. But there’s still the amnesty clause, out to help bad GMs and teams from big and small markets alike. Elton Brand already got amnestied by the 76ers. Who’s next?
Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls
After two years with the Bulls, the overall feeling is that if they’d have a good offer for the 30 year old, 2-time NBA all-star, the Bulls would take it. Problem is he’s still going to make $47 million for the next three years, and no one is really looking to get such a contract at this point, so a trade is out of the question. Boozer averaged 15 points and 8.5 rebounds. Not bad, but the Bulls wanted more, expected more. It would be surprising seeing the Bulls using the amnesty clause on Boozer, practically giving up, but if the Bulls want to avoid paying the luxury tax, it makes sense.
Metta World Peace, Los Angeles Lakers
In 2011-2012, Metta World Peace produced the worst numbers of his career – 7.7 points while playing a career low 26.9 minutes per game. The Lakers just looked like a better team without him plenty of times, without even mentioning the inevitable meltdown and elbow to the head of James Harden. Trade? No one will take the two-year, $15 million contract at the moment, which means the Lakers will pay big tax money if they don’t find a way to clear some space under the cap.
Al Harrington
Still very productive offensively, Harrington averaged 14.2 points in 27.5 minutes per game last season for the Denver Nuggets, but at 32 years old, bound to make $6.7 million next year, the Nuggets are keen to avoid paying tax money. Harrington, because of his age and the lack of specific position on the floor, becomes a good candidate for the amnesty clause.
Andray Blatche
After the Wizards surprised everyone by not using the Amnesty clause on Rashard Lewis, eventually trading him to the New Orleans Hornets for Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, Blatche looks like a likely candidate to get cut. He’s still on the books for $23 million in the next three years and his complete lack of effort and desire to contribute, or at least it seems like it, might eventually push the Wizards to give up on the talented big-man and let someone else try and handle him.
Darko Milicic
Forever the man who was picked ahead of Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, Milicic was a non-factor last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging 4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He’s not owed that much money – $5.2 million next season and $1.7 for 2013-2014, but Minnesota are about getting younger and better. Milicic doesn’t help them in any way, not really having ‘trade chip’ labeled on his forehead.
Mike Miller
Really? After such a great playoff for the man who always looks and acts injured? A guy who scored 23 points in the closeout game for the Miami Heat, winning the NBA title? Miller is actually considering retirement, while the Heat recently added Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to help with some outside shooting Miller, who’s still owed $18 million for the next three years looks like a good candidate to get cut so the Heat can clear some precious cap space.