NBA Amnesty Clause: 10 Likely Amnesty Cuts and Where They Will Land

An already juicy crop of free agents will get even juicier on December 9th, when teams are allowed to sign and cut players.

The new collective bargaining agreement will have an amnesty clause that will allow each team to cut one player without having that player's contract count against the salary cap.

These amnesty cuts will flood the free-agent market, and teams will be able to sign them at a bargain compared to their current bloated contracts.  

Here are the top 10 players who are likely to get cut by their current teams and where they will end up after the whirlwind week of free agency comes to an end.

10. Andris Biedrins

Why He Will Be Cut: Once thought to be the center of the future in the Bay Area, Andris Biedrins production has fallen off in the past two seasons, especially at the free-throw line.

The Latvian seven-footer shot 16 percent from the line in 29 games during the 2009-10 season, and was not much better last season when he shot 32 percent in 55 games.

Biedrins is too much of an offensive liability to be kept around for $9 million next season, despite claims from the Warriors that they have no intention to use an amnesty cut on him.  

Where He Will End Up: Atlanta.  Biedrins is an average defender, above-average rebounder and atrocious on offense.  

The Hawks starting center, Zaza Pachulia, is an average defender, average rebounder and also atrocious on offense. In addition, Atlanta may use its amnesty cut to get Pachulia's $4.75 million salary off its books.

Biedrins would be a slight upgrade in the middle for Atlanta.

9. Andres Nocioni

Why He Will Be Cut: Andres Nocioni averaged just 17.2 minutes per game last year, and did not do much during his limited time on the court.

Nocioni finished the season with the modest stat line of 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, and is set to make $6.7 million next year.

Once a lanky and creative swingman, Nocioni will be 32 years old when the season starts, and may not have the spring left in his legs to generate offense while coming off the bench.  

Where He Will End Up: Abroad.  Nocioni has expressed interest in going back to his native Argentina or to Europe to finish his career.  

This may be a move that he makes out of necessity rather than preference, as few NBA teams would be interested in signing him to a contract close to the one he currently has.

8. Travis Outlaw

Why He Will Be Cut: Travis Outlaw's contract with the Nets was possibly the worst deal signed before last season.

New Jersey came up short in the competition for the big-name free agents in the summer of 2010, and in a move of desperation, signed Outlaw to an inexplicable 5-year deal worth $35 million.

The seven-million dollar man averaged 9.2 points and 4.0 rebounds a game while shooting just 37.5 percent from the field.  He finished a season with a player efficiency rating of 8.9, the fifth worst among players who played at least 750 minutes.

While it is unlikely he will be playing in New Jersey next season, his bank account will be full for many years to come courtesy of Mihkail Prokhorov and the Nets.

Where He Will End Up: Houston. Outlaw proved last season that he is not a starter, but he may garner interest from teams as a backup.

The Rockets have cap space and could use another big, athletic forward. However, they will not be offering Outlaw anything close to $7 million a season.  

7. Marvin Williams

Why He Will Be Cut: Atlanta's fateful decision to draft Marvin Williams with the second pick in the 2005 draft will be burned into the minds of its fans for years to come, as Chris Paul and Deron Willliams were the next two players taken.

Now the Hawks owe Williams $7.5 million next season, and were reportedly shopping him around before last season's trade deadline.

At his current salary, Willams, who averaged 10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last year, is unlikely to be part of Atlanta's plan going forward.

The 2011 free-agent pool is filled with players (Shane Battier, Tayshaun Prince, Mike Dunleavy) who can give Atlanta similar, if not better, production at a much cheaper price. 

Where He Will End Up: Detroit.  The Pistons will likely lose Tayshaun Prince to free agency, and would need to add perimeter players.

Detroit has plenty of cap space, and could sign Williams as well as one or two more players.

The Pistons could create even more room under the cap, and increase their need to add perimeter players if they use their Amnesty Cut on Richard Hamilton.

6. Richard Hamilton

Why He Will Be Cut: The days of the Pistons' 2004 championship season are buried deep in the past, and Detroit will be looking to move on from that era by parting ways with Richard Hamilton.

Prince is a free agent, and Hamilton, who is owed $12.5 million next season is the most like candidate for use of the Amnesty Clause. 

Hamilton had a dip in scoring production last season, but has a career average of 17.7 points per game. He is known as one of the hardest workers in the NBA, and has been one of the premier shooters in the game for many years.

But he is also one of the highest paid players in the game, and at 33-years-old, the youthful Pistons will use their Amnesty Cut to create cap space and get younger.

Where He Will End Up: Chicago.  After failing to generate offense late in games against Miami in last year's Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls will try to add scoring options this offseason. 

Hamilton's age will likely make him cheaper than other free-agent shooting guards such as Jamaal Crawford and Jason Richardson.

The Bulls, who are over the cap, could use their mid-level exception to sign Hamilton and provide Derrick Rose with much needed help on offense.

5. Mehmet Okur

Why He Will Be Cut: Mehmet Okur played in just 13 games due to an array of injuries and averaged career lows in points in rebounds.

Okur is set to make $10.89 million next season, and taking his salary off the books would keep Utah under the cap.

The Jazz have options down low in Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson, and are unlikely to take on the risk of Okur's contract heading into next season.

Where He Will End Up: Boston. Danny Ainge and the Celtics have signed several veteran centers in the past, and Okur is not as much of an injury concern as many may think after last season.

Okur had played in at least 71 games in every season prior to last year, and has shot 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from behind the three-point line during his career. He also spent the summer playing in Turkey and stayed healthy.

Okur can stretch the floor better than nearly every player his size, and would give the Celtics a needed offensive upgrade in the frontcourt.

4. Baron Davis

Why He Will Be Cut: Baron Davis is a fantastic point guard when wants to be, but he is a lazy and often overweight point guard when he is disinterested. 

Fans saw Davis' full range last season as he had flashes of brilliance while running alongside Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon.

The Clippers then chose to go in a different direction and trade Davis to Cleveland for Mo Williams, and the lethargic and porky Davis returned.

The Cavs are set to pay the former All-Star $13.9 million, and will almost certainly remove themselves of that obligation.

Where He Will Go: Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers did not get the production they had hoped for out of Derek Fisher and Steve Blake and will be looking for an upgrade at point guard.

Davis is a Los Angeles native, and would likely welcome an opportunity to play in L.A. again.

With plenty of talent surrounding him and Kobe Bryant making sure he stays focused, Davis can be a valuable addition as the Lakers try to return to championship form.

3. Brandon Roy

Why He Will Be Cut: Brandon Roy's future looked incredibly bright before chronic knee problems caught up with him and severely limited his playing time and athleticism.

Roy has begun the process of transforming his game to accommodate his limited mobility. He went from playing 37 minutes a game in 2010 to just 27 in 2011. In the same stretch, his scoring dropped from 21.5 points per game to just 12.2.  

The former All-Star is set to $14.94 million next season, which is a hefty price to pay for a backup.  

Roy is still capable of being a productive player, but his days of being one of the league's best paid players are over.

Where He Will End Up: Golden State. The Warriors are in the market for a veteran shooting guard, and there may not be a better option than Roy.

He has the will and determination of an elite NBA player, even if he no longer has the knees to be one. 

Roy showed that he can still score against quality teams during Portland's playoff series with Dallas, when he went 9-13 and scored 24 points in 24 minutes in Game 3.

Roy could provide valuable minutes for Golden State as the leader of its second unit.

2. Gilbert Arenas

Why He Will Be Cut: Gilbert Arenas has been one of the most polarizing players in the NBA since his lengthy suspension for brandishing a gun in his own locker room in 2010.

If the Magic keep Arenas, they will have to pay him $19.27 million next season, which is more than they would pay Dwight Howard.

Arenas only had half a season to prove what he could do in Orlando, but he did not prove much. He averaged only 8.0 points and 3.2 assists while committing 2.2 turnovers per game and shooting just 34 percent from the field.

Arenas is the fifth highest paid player in the league, and the Magic would be smart to hit the reset button on his contract.

Where He Will End Up: Denver. The Nuggets have one of the lowest payrolls in the league, and will be without JR Smith, Wilson Chandler and Kenyon Martin for the 2011-12 season because all three players are locked into contracts with Chinese teams.

Denver also may lose Nene to free agency, and will be in desperate need of offensive firepower.

For all the criticism Arenas has received as a person and a teammate, no one doubts his ability to score. Even after last season's subpar numbers, Arenas is still averaging 21.2 points per game over his career.  

1. Rashard Lewis

Why He Will Be Cut: The only player set to make more money than Rashard Lewis in the 2011-12 NBA season is Kobe Bryant.

Lewis is owed an astonishing $22.15 million next season under his current contract, and for the sake of fairness in the league, the Wizards must use their amnesty cut on him.

While making all that money, Lewis averaged only 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game during his time in Washington. 

The Wizards would have tons of cap space to add talent around John Wall if they cut ties with Lewis.

Where He Will End Up: Phoenix. Lewis' offensive capabilities make him an ideal fit in the Suns' fast paced offense.

Steve Nash would enjoy having another scorer to feed, and Lewis' presence may be able to keep Nash in town for the remainder of his career. 

Lewis will have to settle for a fraction of the amount of his current salary, but can still be a solid scoring option on a competitive team. 

His immensely bloated salary will likely result in the amnesty clause being renamed the Rashard Lewis Rule. However, like all the players on this list, the forward will still receive all the money on his contract, and can find another place to play basketball.