NBA Rumors: Top 10 Amnesty Clause Victims

The NBA lockout saga drags on, and lines are clearly drawn in the sand.  Neither side will budge.  The owners and the players are more focused on pointing fingers than actually ending the darn thing. 

In fact, the end of the lockout seems as likely as Agent Zero staying with Orlando.

I'll talk about that later.

The overwhelming opinion among fans is that there will be no season this year.

That might be the opinion of general managers too, but that hasn't stopped them from planning for one particular item on the proposed CBA: the amnesty clause.

An article by Marc Stein and Chad Ford on ESPN.com talks about the amnesty clause and how teams have known about it since the spring. 

It compares the clause to a "magic bullet" for NBA teams because it allows them to release a player on a bad contract.  Seventy-five percent of the value of that contract would not count against the salary cap, and there would be luxury-tax relief also. 

Despite the owners' rally cry for competitive balance, this clause definitely helps big-market teams.

That hasn't stopped small-market ones from planning for the amnesty clause, though. All teams, whether they have deep pockets or are strapped for cash, have signed bad deals.

GMs are ready to load that "magic bullet" and fire away.  They just need the NBA lockout to end first.

The article highlighted players from each NBA franchise that are possible amnesty clause victims. Here are my top 10.

10. Darko Milicic

Are the Minnesota Timberwolves crippled by bad contracts? No, they are not.

Is Darko Milicic's contract the worst in the world? No, it is not. 

That being said, he averages eight points and two blocks a game.  Is that worth $5 million a year, $15 million total?

No, it most definitely is not.

Milicic has been in the league 10 years. He is no longer a young player with potential.

I'm not sure what has given Minnesota reason to believe in Darko, but it certainly can't be his scoring prowess or winning personality.

We know what Darko is: eight points and two blocks.  Minnesota has to pay him for this miserable stat line regardless. But that doesn't mean it has to count against the salary cap for them.

In my opinion, they should cut ties with him and sign players that can contribute in more than one category.

Besides, who needs Darko when the Timberwolves have Kevin Love and his amazing shoes!

9. DeSagana Diop

As the ESPN.com article states, "Diop is one of the easier calls on the board."

Why anyone would pay for 2.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game is beyond me.  But I guess seven-footers are hard to come by in the NBA. 

You would think that Diop earned his money blocking shots.

No, he hasn't averaged one block a game since the 2007-08 NBA season, when he played for Dallas and New Jersey.

The poor Charlotte Bobcats never got much out of their 2008 investment.  In fact, in the three seasons since signing with Charlotte, Diop has only played in 84 games.

Michael Jordan is the owner/general manager, and the Bobcats are rebuilding. With the team in the tank, Jordan unloaded players last year with hopes of freeing up cap space. 

I don't imagine that Jordan is too happy with the bang he is getting for his buck. Keeping Diop's $14.2 million over the next two years on the books would be brutal.

Via the amnesty clause, Jordan and the Bobcats could essentially make it disappear.

8. Metta World Peace

Stein and Ford's article names Luke Walton as the most likely amnesty cut for the Lakers.  There are good reasons why. 

Walton is a role player with a long history of injuries.  In fact, his chronic back issues are making his return unclear.  This makes his $23 million over the next two years an obvious target to be cut. 

But the article goes on to say that if Walton retires because of his back—which, according to ESPN.com's Andy Katz, he is considering—then using the amnesty clause on Metta would be possible.

This makes more sense to me anyway.  I suppose, financially, it makes more sense to cut Walton.  I mean, why pay someone that much when he is such an injury risk?

But it is not like Metta has no risks.  Let's be honest.  Nobody knows what he is going to do.

All indications are that the Lakers are pulling their hair out about his antics and his disappointing performance last year.

After losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs, amid speculation about team conflict, the last thing the Lakers want going forward is more distractions.

They already have Kobe for that!

The artist formerly known as Ron Artest has worn out his welcome with the Lakers.  They would serve themselves well to cut him and save themselves the headaches that would inevitably follow.

They can use the cap space to sign someone that fits better with the team and who brings a little more stability to the lineup.

7. Drew Gooden

You can call me a Drew Gooden hater, because I am.  I've never thought he played up to the potential he showed at Kansas.

That being said, I don't think my bias comes into play here.  I think the Milwaukee Bucks would be smart to rid themselves of his contract.  He is due $26 million over the next four seasons.

For 11 points and seven rebounds a game, I think that is a bit much.

The ESPN.com article names Beno Udrih as the most likely amnesty cut. The Bucks are overloaded at the guard position and in dire need of frontcourt help.

Granted, ESPN is much smarter than I am.  But, I still think Gooden makes the most sense, and here is my proposal.

Udrih is owed about $25 million over the next four seasons but is arguably a better and more tradable player.  He is coming off his best statistical year as a pro.

Instead of wasting the amnesty clause on Udrih, trade him for some frontcourt help.  Then use the amnesty clause to unload Gooden's contract.  Use the cap space to make a run at a useful big man via free agency whose price is closer to his production.

Drew Gooden has played for nine teams in nine seasons.  There is a reason for that.

6. Richard Jefferson

Even without Richard Jefferson, the Spurs have a payroll above $65 million.  So, financial considerations need to be made. 

Especially with Tim Duncan's best years behind him, the Spurs may need to rebuild and reload in the next two or three years.

That being said, they believe they can still win with Duncan as the focal point.  So they want to keep the best team around him as possible.  According to the ESPN article, Richard Jefferson fits into these plans.

I just don't see it.

Jefferson is also a player whose best years are behind him.  Although, he can still contribute.  He was a starter for 81 games with the Spurs last year.

It comes down to money, though.  He is owed $9.3 million, $10.2 million and $11 million in each of the next three years. 

That is quite a financial commitment for someone who's seen his numbers—and minutes—decline over the last four years.

Basically, the Spurs will be paying more, for less. 

Jefferson averaged 39 minutes per game in 2007-08 and only 30 minutes last year.  He is also averaging over 11 points less a game.

He's never filled the stat sheet.  But his rebounds, assists, steals and free throws attempted are down also.

The one category that he has improved? Three-point percentage. 

What does that tell us?

Richard Jefferson is settling for three pointers.  We've seen this before.  NBA athletes lose their explosiveness and ability to make their own shot.  So, they focus more on three-pointers.  The improved long distance percentage is an aberration.

He is still contributing, but the Spurs can get the same production for much less. 

5. Richard Hamilton

Stein and Ford insist that Charlie Villanueva is the likely player to be released by the Detroit Pistons. 

I still think that Richard Hamilton is the obvious choice.

Granted, Villanueva has been a colossal disappointment since coming to the Pistons two years ago. Last year, he averaged 11 points and 3.9 rebounds a game while earning $7.5 million.

However, he is younger than Rip.  Both had rocky relationships with their former coaches that no doubt affected their production.  Under new Piston coach Lawrence Frank, Villanueva could possibly be a different player.

I think the Pistons should give him a chance.

On the other hand, Rip is Rip. The Pistons know what he can do.  He can still score, but that is about it.  

He also wore out his welcome in Motown. His divisiveness in the locker room and whining on the court has left a bad taste in the mouths of fans. 

He was more responsible than anyone else for John Kuester losing command of the Pistons then getting fired.

Who is to say he would not do the same with Lawrence Frank?

The Pistons seem to believe that Rip has trade value.  All I have to say is, "Wake up!"  If he was that tradable, you would have unloaded him last year.  His skills have eroded, and he is known as a "coach killer."

I don't think teams are lining up to sign players like that.  Especially not when he is owed more than $21 million over the next two years.

While Villanueva's contract might be more, I think he has more upside. With Rip, there is too much negative energy. 

This young Piston team, looking to forge its own identity, does not need to be led unwillingly by a selfish veteran trying to reclaim his own glory days.

The Pistons need to cut ties with Richard Hamilton, his contract and move full steam ahead. 

4. Hedo Turkoglu

Many, including Stein and Ford, will tell you that Gilbert Arenas is the player the Orlando Magic needs to cut.

However, Stein and Ford also admit that there is little to gain from cutting Arenas.  The Magic will not gain significant cap room from his departure.

It is true, Arenas has given the Magic what his nickname suggests: zero.  His eight points, three assists and .275 shooting from three-point range was not what Orlando wanted or needed.

But, let's remember, he missed 2009 due to suspension and had three knee surgeries since then.  Not to mention, he was in a new role with Orlando: bench player.  He only started two of the 49 games he played with Orlando.

Yes, Arenas has been disappointing.  But if you have to pay him $62 million, and there is no salary cap benefit in cutting him, then hold on to him and hope he regains some of his old form.

I believe that Turkoglu is the better amnesty clause victim.

Like Arenas, Turkoglu has been a shadow of his old self.  Except there is no reason for his decline. No major injury.  Only several team changes.

The decline started when he signed with Toronto in 2009.  It continued when he was traded to Phoenix. His return to Orlando was supposed to be a return to glory. Turkoglu had his best seasons, statistically, with Orlando. 

This did not happen.

Orlando will likely be losing Dwight Howard and will be in dire need of someone who can carry a team and fill seats.  Who has done this?  Arenas or Turkoglu?  Agent Zero is the clear answer.

Cut the guy whose decline is less explainable, has the least upside and whose release could actually benefit your financial situation.

3. Travis Outlaw

ESPN.com's article rates the chances of Travis Outlaw being the New Jersey Nets' amnesty cut as a "slam dunk."

I could not agree more.

The Nets signed Outlaw to a five-year, $35 million contract in 2010; he is still due $24 million dollars. 

The article reports that last season Outlaw had a PER (player efficiency average) of 8.8.  I will not go into the details of what the PER is because, truthfully, I don't know.  The fact that the league average is 15 tells you all you need to know.

Furthermore, Outlaw gave the Nets nine points (barely) and four rebounds a game while shooting .375 from the floor and .301 from three-point range.

Not exactly a stat line that is going to get the Nets excited about the future.

Cutting Outlaw will put the Nets in a much better financial situation so that they can re-sign Deron Williams and make a serious run at Dwight Howard.

Two moves that the Nets need to make if they ever hope to become real contenders in the NBA.

2. Brandon Roy

Brandon Roy is the heart and soul of the Portland Trailblazers. 

He's a franchise player that has also become a vital part of the Portland community. Cutting ties with him would be a very difficult thing for Portland to do, but it would be the right thing to do.

Roy has been hobbled by injuries for a large part of the last two years.  He has deteriorating knees.  This condition will not get better.

He is owed more than $50 million over the next four years, and the Trailblazers already have a team payroll close to $75 million.

Cutting ties with Roy will be painful—to the Trailblazers' heart and their pocketbook. 

The reality is that Portland needs to start over. 

They cannot do that without getting the cap space that the amnesty clause will allow them after they cut Roy.

Cutting Roy would likely be seen as a cold-hearted move, and that would be an accurate description.  

But professional sports is a cold-hearted business, and this would be the right move. 

1. Rashard Lewis

The Washington Wizards are grossly overpaying Rashard Lewis.  Luckily for them, the amnesty clause is coming. 

Once they cut his $30 million owed from their salary cap, they can immediately become active in the free agent and trade markets.

Then they can get some help for John Wall and JaVale McGee.

The Wizards have an exciting and young team at its core.  The last thing they need is to be handcuffed by a bad contract and a player who does not want to be there; Lewis had the worst season of his career in 2010-11.

This move will have an immediate impact on the Wizards.  It could dramatically improve their playoff chances if they can parlay the cap space they gain into smart signings.

Like the Travis Outlaw move, this one is a slam dunk.