2011 NBA Free-Agent Predictions: Baron Davis and Best Potential Amnesty Buys

The amnesty clause in the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement will add an unusual bit of intrigue to the free-agent frenzy leading up to the 2011-12 season. Teams will have the opportunity to waive one player from their current roster without having the remainder of that money count against the luxury tax.

And while teams don't necessarily have to exercise this one-time privilege right away, or even at all, there will be plenty of overpaid stars hitting the open market within the next few months. There's no shortage of speculation as to who will get cut, though these players figure to find themselves back on the open market, with plenty of general managers lining up for their deeply discounted services.

Baron Davis

Contrary to popular belief, Baron Davis still can be and often is an excellent NBA point guard, though the sum of his recent contributions can't quite justify him making $28.8 million over the next two years.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have every reason to waive goodbye to Davis after taking Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. As seemingly damning as such a buyout may seem, there are certainly plenty of teams out there that wouldn't mind signing a veteran player capable of contributing 15 points and seven assists per night on the cheap.

As such, look for just about every potential contender to give Davis a call, with a potential return to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers at the top of his list.

Rashard Lewis

The Purple and Gold have also been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Washington Wizards forward Rashard Lewis.

That is, assuming the Wiz are keen to eat the nearly $46 million left on Lewis' lethargically bloated deal.

Lewis has been nothing short of a severe disappointment since he left Seattle, as the sharpshooting forward has seen his numbers dip every year since his career-making 2006-07 season.

That being said, there's a burgeoning market for early-thirty-somethings capable of pouring in double-digit points and five or six rebounds on any given night, especially those willing to settle for the reduced midlevel exception.

Lewis would be a fine fit with the Heat, assuming Mike Miller is sent packing from Miami as part of the South Beach Amnesty Diet.

Gilbert Arenas

Lewis landed in DC as part of a deal that finally sent Gilbert Arenas and his albatross of a contract out of town.

The immense sum of money left on Arenas' deal—more than $62 million over three years—makes him an easy target for Orlando's amnesty, particularly after his pitiful play for the Magic following the midseason swap.

Like B-Diddy above, The Baller Formerly Known as Agent Zero may seek a return to his Los Angeles roots if and when he's let go, with the Lakers firmly on his radar.

Whether the team reciprocates that interest, in a player who's been plagued by injuries and a rigid cranium in recent years, remains to be seen.

Brandon Roy

It's tough to fault Brandon Roy for his recent decline in performance and productivity per dollar. The one-time star shooting guard came into the NBA with a history of knee injuries, which ultimately led the Minnesota Timberwolves to swap his draft rights to the Portland Trailblazers for those of Randy Foye back in 2006.

Still, there's no denying that the guy just isn't worth anything close to the $49 million over the next three years that he's currently owed. However, Roy's still worth $2 million or $3 million per year as a bench scorer for a championship-caliber club, especially if he's still capable of putting up an unbelievable performance now and again like he did against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 playoffs.