NBA Amnesty Clause: Which Teams Should Use It and the Player They Should Cut

The amnesty clause might shake up the landscape of the NBA for the 2011-12 season, but it might not be to the extent that some have believed.

There will be a bidding system in place for those players who are cut via the clause, and that means clubs over the salary cap won't be able to just jump in and sign a player who becomes a free agent.

Interested teams will be able to place bids to pay a percentage of the player's remaining salary, and the club with the highest bid will be awarded that player's services.

Additionally, teams don't have to use the clause immediately (it can be used at any point during the length of the Collective Bargaining Agreement), but it can only be utilized on those contracts that were signed at the inception of the agreement.

With all of that said, there are plenty of candidates around the league, but only a fraction of franchises will likely pull the trigger.

Atlanta Hawks: Marvin Williams

Remaining Salary: Three years, about $23 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

The decision to draft Marvin Williams ahead of Chris Paul and Deron Williams will forever be one that is questioned, but the choice to extend him on such a lucrative deal was particularly strange.

The Hawks have a chance to get out of the long-term commitment to Marvin by axing him, but it might make more sense for the team to see what he can bring to the table this season or attempt to include him in a trade before swallowing his salary.

Boston Celtics: Jermaine O'Neal

Remaining Salary: One year, $6.2 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Unlikely

There are probably a lot of Celtics fans champing at the bit to rid of O'Neal, but without any sort of depth in the middle and just a single season left on his contract, it doesn't really make any sense for the team to pay him just to cut him.

He's certainly fragile and has struggled with injuries down the stretch, but with an expiring contract in 2012 and the club having no viable alternatives in the fold, this scenario just doesn't add up.

Charlotte Bobcats: DeSagana Diop

Remaining Salary: Two years, $14.3 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Likely

There's certainly an argument to retain DeSagana Diop on the roster, as he's the only true center currently within the group, but that point of view is skewed drastically when taking into account the fact he's owed more than $7 million per season over the next two years.

For a rebuilding team like the Bobcats, it makes no sense to jeopardize future cap flexibility and hold on to Diop, so he's a good bet to be gone even though the team is obligated to pay him.

Chicago Bulls: Ronnie Brewer

Remaining Salary: Two years, $9 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Unlikely

Although Ronnie Brewer didn't pan out as the Bulls may have liked during his first season in Chicago, it doesn't really make sense to cut him with less than $10 million owed over the next two seasons.

He's a defensive stopper on the perimeter, which meshes well with head coach Tom Thibodeau's philosophy, and the Bulls aren't desperate to achieve cap flexibility this offseason.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Baron Davis

Remaining Salary: Two years, $28.8 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Likely

Baron Davis could certainly help the development of Kyrie Irving as a mentor to the first overall pick, but he isn't worth nearly $30 million over two years to a team that needs to be able possess cap space every season for the foreseeable future.

Although he draws sharp criticism, Davis isn't as poor of a player as many make him out to be, but that still isn't enough to justify his presence on a Cleveland team that's going to devote serious playing time to Irving.

Dallas Mavericks: Brendan Haywood

Remaining Salary: Five years, $45.4 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

The last season on Haywood's deal is actually a team option, but before the club even considers paying Haywood just to go away, Mark Cuban is smart enough to know that he has to re-sign Tyson Chandler.

If the Mavericks are able to re-sign the center and find a more cost-effective backup for him, then freeing up the future cap flexibility by cutting Haywood certainly makes sense.

Denver Nuggets: Al Harrington

Remaining Salary: Four years, $27.7 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

The Nuggets got absolutely nothing from Harrington in his first season with the team, and he looked absolutely lost at times on the court.

However, the team is extraordinarily thin along the front line heading into free agency, and that alone could be enough for Denver to keep Harrington and see if he can manage to make any progress.

Detroit Pistons: Richard Hamilton

Remaining Salary: Two years, $21.5 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Likely

The Pistons have three real amnesty candidates: Hamilton, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, so even if the team keeps Hamilton on the roster, this is a club that's a near certainty to use it on one of those players listed.

Although both Gordon and Villanueva have really underachieved since arriving in Detroit, there's no reason for a rebuilding team to be paying the veteran Hamilton upwards of $20 million over the next two seasons when cap space is far more valuable going forward.

Golden State Warriors: Charlie Bell

Remaining Salary: One year, $4 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

There are going to be some fans who clamor for Andris Biedrins and his $9 million salary to go out the door, but despite his lack of production over recent seasons, the big man is still just 25 years old and there just aren't a lot of quality big men in the league.

The team reportedly has no intention of using the clause on Biedrins, so that would leave Bell as a very realistic option considering he was absolutely invisible on the bench last season.

Houston Rockets: Hasheem Thabeet

Remaining Salary: One year, $5.1 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

It's awfully difficult to find size with real talent in this league, as Memphis found out after drafting Thabeet second overall. The Rockets really have no need for him, assuming the club adds a big man through the free-agency process.

His deal expires after the season, so the Rockets might choose to keep him around and see what he could provide, but if his contributions to this point in his career are indicative of his future potential, there won't be a need for the club to keep him.

Indiana Pacers: James Posey

Remaining Salary: One year, $6.9 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Unlikely

The Pacers simply don't need to use the clause right now, as the team is set up really well and has a ton of cap space entering the offseason.

His contract expires at the conclusion of the campaign, and it makes no sense for a team without a need to secure extra cap space to get rid of him for no reason, seeing as how the team still has to pay him either way.

Los Angeles Clippers: Mo Williams

Remaining Salary: Two years, $17 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Unlikely

The Clippers have a very promising young point guard in Eric Bledsoe waiting in the wings behind Williams, but he's not yet ready for a full-time role, and there isn't another player at the position on the roster outside of Williams.

He's got enough value to potentially be included in any future trade Los Angeles may make, and there's just no reason for the Clippers to get rid of him at this point, although that could certainly change in the future.

Los Angeles Lakers: Luke Walton

Remaining Salary: Two years, $11.8 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

The Lakers have more than $91 million committed in salary this season, but if any team in the league can afford to go well and above the soft salary cap, it's undoubtedly them.

There are a handful of candidates who could be realistic victims of the clause, including Walton, Steve Blake and even Metta World Peace, but it's more probable that the team takes some time to evaluate the long-term picture before making the move.

Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo

Remaining Salary: One year, $5.6 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Unlikely

Much like Indiana, Memphis doesn't have much incentive to use the amnesty clause this year as the team doesn't need to clear any additional cap space in order to re-sign restricted free agent Marc Gasol.

It doesn't make much sense for the team to get rid of Mayo even if he has fallen in the pecking order with just a single season remaining on his deal, and there's a real possibility he turns it around after a down season and has his stock increase within league circles.

Miami Heat: Mike Miller

Remaining Salary: Four years, $24 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Likely

There's a divide in opinion as to whether or not the Heat should make Miller an amnesty victim, but in order to achieve some long-term cap flexibility and keep the "Big Three" in the fold, the team might have no other option.

He really struggled in his first season with the team and did not justify his average annual salary. That might be enough to punch his ticket to free agency considering how much money the team has tied up in James, Wade and Bosh going into the future.

Milwaukee Bucks: Drew Gooden

Remaining Salary: Four years, $26.3 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

The Bucks would be much more likely to use the clause on Gooden if Milwaukee had a legitimate option behind him already on the roster, but that just isn't the case.

Although the team drafted Tobias Harris, the club can ill-afford to bank on his production as a starter at this point. The only other realistic choice is Shaun Livingston, and his contract expires in 2012 anyway.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Luke Ridnour

Remaining Salary: Three years, $12 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

Let's be realistic: David Kahn is far too high on both Darko Milicic and Nikola Pekovic to make either realistic candidates in this scenario, and although there is a case for Martell Webster to get the call here, Ridnour's contract comes off the books after the upcoming season.

With the Ricky Rubio show coming to town and the team having every incentive to play him heavy minutes (unlikely to make postseason, need to draw fans into building), Ridnour's contract might be one the team would be better off without in the long run.

New Jersey Nets: Travis Outlaw

Remaining Salary: Four years, $28 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Likely

Outlaw is one of the poster children for the amnesty clause, but it really wouldn't be a shock to see the team retain him for the time being before ultimately deciding to cut him from the roster.

The team has a ton of cap space right now, so there's really not a rush for the Nets to show any rush in the potential usage of the clause, but there's almost no way that Outlaw lives out the tenure of this contract.

New Orleans Hornets: Jarrett Jack

Remaining Salary: Two years, $10.8 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

The Hornets currently have just five players under contract going into a compacted free-agency period, and because of massive salaries owed to both Chris Paul and Emeka Okafor, the team doesn't possess a ton of cap flexibility.

Having said that, the club has enough to add at least a couple of nice pieces to the puzzle, and if the team can bring in a backup point guard on the cheap, that may be enough for the Hornets to use the clause on Jack.

New York Knicks: Renaldo Balkman

Remaining Salary: Two years, $3.4 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Likely

The Knicks have no incentive to amnesty Balkman right now as a shortened season and tighter schedule necessitates depth on the roster, but that doesn't mean that he's not the guy on the chopping block in the future.

The team is reportedly "expected" to use the clause on Balkman, but that doesn't mean it will be before the 2011-12 season comes to a close.

For New York, it's all about cap space entering the 2012 offseason.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Thabo Sefolosha

Remaining Salary: Three years, $10.8 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Unlikely

Oklahoma City is in a good position with Kevin Durant and Kendrick Perkins both locked up long-term, and the team has enough financial wiggle room to extend Russell Westbrook when he becomes a restricted free agent in 2012.

It's possible the club entertains the thought of nixing Sefolosha due to the emergence of James Harden, but he does serve a distinct purpose as a defensive stopper and it's not a ton of money owed to him over the length of the contract.

Orlando Magic: Gilbert Arenas

Remaining Salary: Three years, $62.3 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Likely

There's really no way around this one: the sad reality of the situation is that the Magic need to use the amnesty provision on Arenas, and once the team does, Orlando will still be just under the salary cap.

There is some belief that the team might be better off seeing what he can bring to the table before getting rid of him. However, the Magic need to do everything possible to ensure they'll be competitive long-term rather than (again) unrealistically trying to compete for a title this season.

Philadelphia 76ers: Andres Nocioni

Remaining Salary: One year, $6.6 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Unlikely

It makes perfect sense for Nocioni and the Sixers to part ways considering how seldom he was used by the team, but it makes very little sense to get rid of him via the amnesty clause.

It would make much more sense for Philadelphia to pursue a buyout on Nocioni's current deal rather than waste the amnesty clause on him, and that's probably the most realistic scenario for both parties.

Phoenix Suns: Josh Childress

Remaining Salary: Four years, $27 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

Childress' contract was a mistake waiting to happen, as it's just inconceivable that any decision maker in any front office would hand a guy more than $30 million over five years after he's spent the last two seasons abroad.

There's no question that Phoenix is rebuilding. Even if the team refuses to admit that that is what's happening, the Suns might wait to see what Childress does this year before deciding he's not worth the cap hit.

Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy

Remaining Salary: Three years, $49 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Likely

The remaining money on Roy's deal listed here doesn't include a team option in 2014-15 at over $19 million, but it makes no sense for the Trail Blazers to endure this salary cap hit given the condition's of Roy's balky knees.

It might be tough for some fans of the team to wave goodbye to Roy, but Portland would be in a far better long-term position to get his enormous salary removed from the cap and continue to build a promising future.

Sacramento Kings: Francisco Garcia

Remaining Salary: Two years, $11.9 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

There isn't an exorbitant amount of money owed to Garcia over the remaining part of his deal, and the Kings certainly aren't short on cap space heading into the offseason.

However, the club is headlined by Tyreke Evans, traded for John Salmons, drafted Jimmer Fredette and is thought to be angling to re-sign Marcus Thornton, and that might leave an undefined role for Garcia on Sacramento's bench.

San Antonio Spurs: Richard Jefferson

Remaining Salary: Three years, $30.5 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

Jefferson was miserable upon his initial tenure in San Antonio, and then the Spurs inexplicably turned around and handed him a ridiculous four-year contract that raised eyebrows around the league.

The team might wait to pull the plug on the Jefferson experiment for another season as Tim Duncan is still under contract. However, removing his deal from the books prior to the highly anticipated summer of 2012 could make the Spurs major players in a very attractive free-agent market and ease the transition to the next era of basketball.

Toronto Raptors: Linas Kleiza

Remaining Salary: Three years, $13.8 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

Kleiza didn't do much for the Raptors in his first season with the team, and his season ended early after he was injured and had to undergo microfracture knee surgery.

At this point, he's still not fully recovered from the procedure, and the team is an absolute disaster as it's currently constructed. It might be in the best interest to remove any unnecessary salary commitments from the cap immediately in an effort to turn around the franchise.

Utah Jazz: Raja Bell

Remaining Salary: Two years, $6.7 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Maybe

When Bell was originally brought to Utah last season, he was expected to serve as a veteran defensive presence in the second unit, but he really struggled to make his presence felt for the team.

With the team clearly rebuilding and looking to the future, it makes some sense to get the rest of Bell's deal off of the books. The Jazz will probably look to include him in a trade before going that route, though.

Washington Wizards: Rashard Lewis

Remaining Salary: Two years, $45.9 million

Will Team Use the Clause: Likely

It's only fitting that both Lewis and Arenas would be cut via the amnesty clause after the two were traded for one another last season.

There's little incentive for the Wizards to keep him around for the next two seasons despite the team possessing adequate cap space. The club needs to focus on surrounding John Wall with talent that can make this team a success in the future.

However, it might make more sense for the Wizards to keep him this season to see if he can bring anything to the table before ultimately parting ways to prepare for a much better free-agent class in 2012.