Predicting Every NBA Team's Amnestied Player Next Season

The NBA's almighty amnesty clause that was included in the most recent collective bargaining agreement has already helped several teams shed their dead weight. Underproducing and overpaid players on rosters around the league felt its sting following the lockout. 

Notable players that have already become victims of the amnesty clause are guys like Gilbert Arenas, Chauncey Billups, Travis Outlaw and Baron Davis, to name a few.

If you're unaware what the amnesty clause is, it's a provision that allows a team to waive a player and not have his salary count against the salary cap or luxury tax, even though the team still has to pay that player for the season.

Every team is allowed to use the amnesty clause once, and while a few teams have already used it, this upcoming offseason is going to be full of teams dropping players that just aren't cutting it.

The following is a list predicting the most likely player from every NBA team that will be a victim of the amnesty clause.  

Atlanta Hawks: Marvin Williams

2012 Salary: $8.2 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 85 percent

Aside from Joe Johnson's absurdly overpriced contract, the next worst contract on the Hawks' books is tied to Marvin Williams, who's scheduled to be paid $15 million over the next two seasons.

While some might think the Hawks will use their amnesty option on Johnson, I think he's better suited to be placed on the trading block, which makes Williams the perfect target for the Atlanta's amnesty option this upcoming offseason.

It will be hard for the Hawks to rationalize spending so much money on a player averaging around 10 points on 43 percent shooting.

I will be shocked if the Hawks don't use the amnesty clause on Williams.

Boston Celtics: Avery Bradley

2012 Salary: $1.1 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 10 percent

The Boston Celtics only have six players on contract next season, and there's no way that they will even consider using the amnesty clause on Rajon Rondo or Paul Pierce, leaving Avery Bradley as the next most feasible option.

In his second year in the NBA, Bradley has shown significant improvement from his rookie season. In all likelihood, he's shown enough potential to make GM Danny Ainge want keep him on the roster for the foreseeable future. 

The only reason why the Celtics would amnesty Bradley is if they absolutely need extra money to re-sign players or sign free agents moving forward.

I just don't see that happening.

Charlotte Bobcats: Desagana Diop

2012 Salary: $7.3 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 99 percent

DeSagana Diop is arguably one of the most overpaid players in the entire NBA, as the Bobcats pay him $7-plus million for his career production of two points and less than four rebounds per game.

I'm not quite sure why the Charlotte hasn't used their its option on Diop yet, as he's done nothing more than take up space on their underwhelming roster this season. 

Dumping Diop would free up cap space and a roster spot that the Bobcats could fill with a more productive and efficient player. 

There's no doubt that the Bobcats will amnesty him before the start of next season.

Chicago Bulls: Ronnie Brewer

2012 Salary: $4.4 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 20 percent

The Chicago Bulls have a very solid rotation in place with a productive starting lineup and one of the best second units in the entire league.

There aren't many players aside from Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver that the Bulls would consider amnestying, as the majority of their contracts are manageable moving forward.

The only reason why the Bulls would consider amnestying Brewer is the fact that he's not the most efficient offensive player, with a shooting percentage this season of just 43.4 percent.  With that being said, there's not much likelihood that the Bulls use their amnesty option on Brewer or on any other player on their roster. 

Dallas Mavericks: Brendan Haywood

2012 Salary: $8.3 million

Chance Player is Amnestied: 90 percent

The Dallas Mavericks are in the books for one of the worst contracts in the NBA with $27-plus million tied up in Brendan Haywood over the next three seasons.

The kind of money the Mavericks are paying Haywood would make you think that he's a superstar, but this season he's averaged just 5.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Haywood doesn't deserve the money that he is receiving, and that's reason enough for the Mavericks to amnesty him. Freeing up some much-needed cap space to go after free agents this upcoming offseason is an added bonus.     

Denver Nuggets: Chris Anderson

2012 Salary: $4.5 million

Chance Player is Amnestied: 55 percent

Before the season started, a lot of people thought the Nuggets would use their amnesty option on Al Harrington, but he's actually developed into a productive sixth man this season.

Chris Anderson, on the other hand, hasn't done much for the team in limited playing time.

The Nuggets have $9.2 million tied up in "The Birdman" over the span of the next two seasons, and that's too much money to pay for a player that is going to be buried on the bench. 

Detroit Pistons: Charlie Villanueva

2012 Salary: $8.1 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 85 percent

Charlie Villanueva missed all but nine games so far this season, and in the games he's played in he's averaged six points on 36 percent shooting, which isn't really worth the $8-plus million they have invested in him.

While the Pistons could also amnesty Ben Gordon, they probably won't as he is at least a productive player for their struggling franchise.

The Pistons have $16.2 million locked up in Villanueva through the next two seasons, and that's the kind of cap space they could use as they try to rebuild the foundation of their franchise. 

Houston Rockets: Marcus Morris

2012 Salary: $1.95 million

Chance Player is Amnestied: 20 percent

The Houston Rockets only have four players definitively contracted for the start of next season, and the only one of them that isn't a starter is Marcus Morris. 

Morris has been an utter disappointment, making a few trips to the Rockets' developmental league team over the span of the season.

The main reason why he won't be amnestied this offseason is because of the potential in his game, especially seeing that his brother Markieff has developed into a solid player for the Phoenix Suns. With one year left (aside from team options) on his contract, the Rockets will most likely give him one more shot, helping him avoid the amnesty clause. 

Los Angeles Clippers: DeAndre Jordan

2012 Salary: $10.5 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 35 percent

Listen, DeAndre Jordan is certainly a solid, productive member of the Los Angeles Clippers.  The only problem is that they have nearly $32.9 million locked into Jordan over the span of the next three seasons.

And $32.9 million over the next three years isn't he kind of money the Clippers should be paying for an average of 7.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.

With so much money locked up in Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the Clippers will need to clear some cap space moving forward, and unfortunately parting with Jordan is the easiest way to do just that for the long term of the franchise. While it makes sense, there's a slim likelihood that the Clippers will actually go ahead and amnesty Jordan, as they have too much invested in him already. 

Los Angeles Lakers: Metta World Peace

2012 Salary: $7.25 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 75 percent

Metta World Peace is lucky that the Lakers lack depth on their roster, because if they had someone who could replace him in their rotation he could have very likely been a victim of the Lakers' amnesty option this season.

Aside from his defensive presence, World Peace hasn't added much to the Lakers this season, and if he doesn't help them make a deep run in the Western Conference playoffs, he will certainly be amnestied at the end of the season.

With the Lakers needing to sign Ramon Sessions, or another free-agent point guard to a long-term contract this offseason, there's no doubt that they could use the freed up cap space they'd get from amnestying World Peace. 

Memphis Grizzlies: Dante Cunningham

2012 Salary: $2.1 million

Chance Player is Amnestied: 30 percent

Dante Cunningham, with season averages of 5.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, isn't necessarily the most overpaid player on the Grizzlies roster, but he's not the most productive either.

Aside from O.J. Mayo, there aren't many players on the Grizzlies roster that they would consider amnestying, and there's no doubt that if they are going to use their amnesty option it will be on Cunningham.

The one thing that will save Cunningham from being the victim of the Grizzlies' amnesty option is that he's shown signs of improvement over the span of this season, and the Grizzlies would be wise to keep him on their roster for at least one more year.  

Miami Heat: Mike Miller

2012 Salary: $5.8 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 95 percent

Mike Miller hasn't been nearly as productive for the Heat as they've needed him to be this season, with an average of just 5.4 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting.

That kind of production moves Miller right to the head of the "please amnesty me" line, as there's no way that the Heat will welcome back his massive $5-plus million contract for getting such underwhelming production in return.

If the Heat fail to win an NBA title this season, they will need to blow up their roster, aside from the big three, and amnestying Miller will be a great way to get that process going.  

Milwaukee Bucks: Drew Gooden

2012 Salary: $6.7 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 25 percent

Over the span of the next three years, the Bucks have around $20 million locked up in Drew Gooden, and that's the main reason why he's the most likely player to be amnestied by the Bucks this offseason.

Fortunately for Gooden, his averages of 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, are a productive piece of the Bucks as they move forward with Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis as the future of their franchise.

The only reason why the Bucks would consider amnestying Gooden is if they are in dyer need of creating cap space as they move forward, but that's highly unlikely, and that's why Gooden will most likely be a member of the Bucks this upcoming season.   

Minnesota Timberwolves: Darko Milicic

2012 Salary: $5.2 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 65 percent

The Minnesota Timberwovles would be wise to use their amnesty option on Darko Milicic as he's not a productive piece of the Timberwolves present plans or their plans for the future.

By amnestying Milicic, the Timberwolves could free up some cash to go out and try to add a solid role player to assist Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love this upcoming offseason.

Milicic's production of 4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in just 18.1 minutes per game, isn't the kind of production that the Timberwolves need coming off their bench.  With the emergence of Nikola Pekovic at the center position for the Timberwolves, there's a high likelihood that Milicic will be amnestied this upcoming offseason. 

New Orleans Hornets: Trevor Ariza

2012 Salary: $7.25 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 35 percent

The New Orleans Hornets don't have many other players to consider amnestying aside from Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, and there's not a high likelihood that they would use that option on Okafor, as he's the future of the Hornets' frontcourt.

While Ariza is certainly a slightly above-average talent, there's no doubt that he's not worth the seven-plus million that the Hornets are paying him.

If the Hornets enter rebuilding mode after this season, a good place to start would be unloading Ariza's massive contract, which would help them clear cap-space to sign some more legitimate free-agent talent in this upcoming offseason. 

Oklahoma City Thunder: Nick Collison

2012 Salary: $3.6 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 15 percent

There are two reasons why Nick Collison most likely won't be amnestied this upcoming offseason.

The first reason is that over the next three years of his contract, the amount the Thunder are paying him decreases significantly.  The second reason why the Thunder won't amnesty Collison is because he's a solid piece of their defensive pressure, while being a veteran leader on an otherwise young Thunder roster.

Another player the Thunder could look to amnesty is Thabo Sefolosha, but like Collison he's a productive member of the Thunder's eight-man rotation.  There's a high likelihood that the Thunder will choose to not use their amnesty option, and that's probably the right move for them to make.  

Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand

2012 Salary: $18.1 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 51 percent

Elton Brand's massive $18-plus million contract is a major issue for the Philadelphia 76ers, as he doesn't produce at a level that is deserving of that much money, and he's not that great of a leader either.

If the Sixers could've held onto their strong surge in the East at the beginning of the 2011-12 season, Brand's future with the franchise might be on a stronger foundation, but unfortunately that didn't happen.

Over the past year or two, Brand hasn't helped the Sixers accomplish anything aside from being an absolutely average team in the Eastern Conference.  Amnestying Brand would be a smart move for the Sixers to make if they are serious about becoming a contender in the years to come. 

Phoenix Suns: Josh Childress

2012 Salary: $6.5 million

Chance Player is Amnestied: 99.9 percent

The Phoenix Suns shouldn't be allowed to use the amnesty clause on Josh Childress just to punish them for making such a terrible acquisition.

Paying $6.5 million per year, for a player that produces 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in about 15 minutes per game, is absolutely mind-blowing, and that's the main reason why the Suns will certainly amnesty Childress this offseason.

Another reason why the Suns will amnesty Childress after this season is because he still has three years left on his contract.  I'll never understand why the Suns signed Childress to such a long-term, overprice contract, but hey, at least the amnesty clause can save them this one time. 

Sacramento Kings: John Salmons

2012 Salary: $8.1 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 99.9 percent

I would be absolutely shocked if the Sacramento Kings failed to use their amnesty option on John Salmons, as he's nothing more than a below-average veteran who's getting payed way too much money.

This season, Salmons has averaged 7.5 points per game on 40.9 percent shooting, and that's certainly not the kind of production that the Kings should be paying $8-plus million for.

If the Kings want to move forward as a franchise, they need to starting dropping the dead weight that is holding them back, and starting that process means amnestying Salmons this offseason. 

San Antonio Spurs: Matt Bonner

2012 Salary: $3.63 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 20 percent

The San Antonio Spurs most likely won't end up amnestying any players, as their team is set up well, especially regarding the financial impact of the players on their roster.

If there was one player though that the Spurs should amnesty it's certainly Matt Bonner, as his 6.9 points per game for $3.6 million dollars a year isn't cutting it.

The main reason why the Spurs will keep Bonner though is because he's a quality teammate, and he's the kind of player that makes everyone else better through practicing with them.  Yes, Allen Iverson, it is possible to make your teammates better through process.

Toronto Raptors: Linas Kleiza

2012 Salary: $4.6 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 70 percent

Linas Kleiza isn't a terrible player, with season averages of 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, but he's certainly not a piece of the future of the Raptors' franchise, and that's why he will most likely be amnestied this upcoming offseason.

The only thing saving Kleiza from being a guaranteed lock to be amnestied is the fact that he only has a player-option year after this upcoming season.

The Raptors undoubtedly need to amnesty Kleiza, as his contract is definitely nothing more than dead-weight, but the Raptors don't necessarily have a strong track record of making the right choice for their franchise.

Utah Jazz: Devin Harris

2012 Salary: $8.8 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 40 percent

Devin Harris hasn't necessarily been the kind of player that the Jazz thought he would be when they traded Deron Williams for him last year.

While Harris hasn't been absolutely terrible, he's certainly not worth the $8.8 million that is locked up in his contract throughout next season.

The main reason why Harris's chance of being amnestied isn't higher is because the Jazz don't have a solid backup option if they were to release Harris, and they don't necessarily have the cap room they need to attract solid talent this offseason.

If Harris isn't amnestied, there's a possibility that Raja Bell could be the victim of the Jazz's amnesty, as he's not worth the money he's getting paid either.  

Washington Wizards: Rashard Lewis

2012 Salary: $23.7 million

Chances Player is Amnestied: 99.9 percent

Rashard Lewis is synonymous with the term "amnesty clause" as many people, including me, think that he needs to be released immediately following the end of the 2011-12 season.

The Washington Wizards absolutely cannot start their rebuilding process with his massive contract weighing them down.

If the Wizards start the 2012-13 season off with Lewis on their roster, they'll be making a bold statement to everyone else in the NBA, and that statement will be, "we don't care about the future of our franchise."