NBA Amnesty Clause: Predicting Stars Likely to Be Cut Loose

A big reason the NBA locked out the players and we almost didn't have a season in 2011-12 is because too many players made a disgustingly large amount of money on long-term contracts that they never had a shot in hell at living up to.

The league sought to control this in the new CBA by limiting teams to signing their own “Bird Rights” players to five-year contracts and other free agents to just four-year deals.

They even went a step further to help the owners rid themselves of their borderline offensive pre-existing contracts by giving them a one-time use amnesty clause.

Teams are going to be cutting ties with some decent players who are paid like superstars just to shed their contracts from their cap and luxury tax figures.

These amnesty casualties will then be put in a special auction in which any team under the cap can make an offer to take on a piece of their former contract, with the team that cut them footing the rest of the bill.

Let’s project which player that each club will be considering cutting as soon as the offseason begins on December 9.

(All salary numbers from HoopsHype)

Atlanta Hawks: Marvin Williams

No one is going to take Williams and the $25 million he is due through 2013-2014. The guy is a bust, and the new ownership group needs to admit as much by getting rid of him.

Perhaps the only reason they don’t is to hold on to it and get rid of the woefully overpaid Joe Johnson in a season or two.

Boston Celtics: Jermaine O’Neal

J.O. has just one year left with approximately $6.3 million owed. This is a terrible bargain, but the expiring contract and fact that the C’s are going to be over the cap no matter what makes me think they hold on to their clause.

Charlotte Bobcats: DeSagna Diop

This contract is awful. Diop is owed over $14 million the next two years, and Michael Jordan needs to get rid of this scrub big man. The Bobcats are overpaying a ton of bad players, but none worse than this guy.

Chicago Bulls: Not Expected to Use Amnesty 

The Bulls have no real solid candidates to amnesty and would be best off holding on to it for use down the line.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Baron Davis

B-Diddy is owed nearly $29 million over the next two years, and Kyrie Irving was selected No. 1 overall to play his position. He’ll be gone within minutes of the offseason starting if Dan Gilbert has any common sense.

Dallas Mavericks: Brendan Haywood

If Tyson Chandler signs elsewhere, the Mavs best option would be holding onto Haywood until they get a new center. If they keep Chandler, look for Brendan’s contract to be torn up

Denver Nuggets: Al Harrington

Harrington is always overpaid it seems, and still has $16.5 million guaranteed of a crazy $27.7 million contract. Stan Kroenke would be insane to pay this out.

Detroit Pistons: Charlie Villanueva

This one was a toss-up between Charlie and Ben Gordon. I think Rip Hamilton gets traded this season and Gordon sees more floor time and actually might live up to his deal. 

Villanueva will never live up to the $24 million left on his contract.

Golden State Warriors: Andris Biedrins

Biedrins is so terrified of being fouled that he can’t stay on the court during crunch-time. He’s a 39 percent career shooter from the stripe, and it has crippled his all-around game. 

You cannot justify paying him $27 million through 2013-14.

Houston Rockets: Not Expected to Use Amnesty

Hasheem Thabeet is owed $5.1 million, but his contract his expiring and Houston can still roll the dice with this big bust. They should keep the clause.

Indiana Pacers: James Posey

The Pacers are under the cap and have no really terrible contracts as of right now. However, if they are gunning to make a splash with signings, they should ditch Posey’s $7.6 million to get even more cap room to fill with impact players.

Los Angeles Clippers: Ryan Gomes

Gomes isn’t living up to his deal and has a good amount of guaranteed money the team could free itself of, but you never know with Donald Sterling running the show.

Los Angeles Lakers: Ron Artest/Metta World Peace

Whatever you want to call him, he’s overpaid. He still has $21.7 million left on his deal, and the Lakeshow would be wise to get rid of it and start looking for a less-crazy, more-productive swingman.

Memphis Grizzlies: Not Expected to Use Amnesty

No strong candidates on a young team with a lot of cheap contracts. They need to hold on to it.

Miami Heat: Mike Miller

Miller fleeced the Heat for a $34 million deal last year and proved he wasn’t worth half of that after just a season. 

They need to amnesty him and sign a productive big man if they want to win it all.

Milwaukee Bucks: Beno Udrih

The Bucks have rid themselves of Corey Maggette and John Salmons in recent months, and now only have a few bad contracts left. Udrih is still owed over $14 million and needs to go.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Martell Webster

Would you believe Webster was the No. 6 overall selection in the NBA Draft in 2005? It’s crazy, and he certainly hasn’t lived up to it or the $5.25 million he’s owed this year.

New Jersey Nets: Travis Outlaw

Giving Outlaw a Mike Miller-like deal was insane of the Nets. Now, they luckily get to wipe that out after just a single season of paying this bum $7 million to do nothing.

New Orleans Hornets: Not Expected to Use Amnesty

There’s barely anyone under contract here, and the team should save it in case they acquire a terrible deal in a Chris Paul trade.

New York Knicks: Renaldo Balkman

The Knicks needed about 20 amnesty clauses a few years ago, but actually have a reasonable roster right now. Balkman is the only one overpaid on the roster, and he barely makes more than a million dollars.

Look for them to save this.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Nate Robinson

OKC has never given out a bad contract, and Nate is the only one the team would even consider using it on. It won’t happen and they hold on to the clause.

Orlando Magic: Gilbert Arenas

Arenas is due $62.4 million through 2013-14, and contracts like his are the reason the amnesty clause was invented.

It would be insane if he were still with the Magic after the offseason.

Philadelphia 76ers: Andres Nocioni

This would have been Elton Brand had he not stepped up last season and got the Sixers into the playoffs. Nocioni is due over $6 million this year, and that is just a stupid amount of money compared to his production.

Phoenix Suns: Josh Childress

Why did the Suns give this kid a $34 million deal last year to bring him back from Europe? It makes no sense, and he should be cut and head back over there where at least he may make an impact.

Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy

Roy will make over $49 million over the next three seasons, and the team needs to go in a new direction without him.

He will be one of the most coveted casualties on the open market.

Sacramento Kings: Francisco Garcia

Would you pay Garcia $18.3 million over the next three years if you drafted Jimmer Fredette? I didn’t think so.

San Antonio Spurs: Not Expected to Use Amnesty

Richard Jefferson is a likely candidate to go, but not this year.

Toronto Raptors: Not Expected to Use Amnesty

This is another team that may cut someone, Jose Calderon, but there is no point this season, and they are best waiting.

Utah Jazz: Mehmet Okur

The Jazz have too many big men, and Okur is too injury-prone and old to keep around.

Washington Wizards: Rashard Lewis

Lewis would be the second-highest paid NBA player this season if he isn’t cut and is due $30 million still over the next two seasons.

The Wizards need to amnesty him.