Miami Heat Rumors: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade Won't Get Help from Amnesty Cuts
Don't hold your breath if you think the Miami Heat are going to find help for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the cheap by plucking amnestied players off the waiver wire.
The process of picking up players who've been cut through the one-time provision doesn't favor teams like the Heat, who are already over the NBA's salary cap. Essentially, teams with cap room are given first dibs to submit blind bids for a given player, and whichever one puts forth the more attractive offer is awarded the rights to that player.
Players released via amnesty are only allowed to negotiate with teams as free agents after every team has had the opportunity to bid for their services. Gilbert Arenas made it through the process unscathed, but only after his agent Dan Fegan lobbied teams to lay off and allow him to sort out his own destiny.
Chances are, there weren't that many teams that needed convincing otherwise, given Arenas' steep decline in on-court performance and immense baggage off of it.
Still, the Heat are desperate for backcourt help and will more than likely look to Arenas to provide depth at either the one or the two. Whether he'll actually be of any help is another story entirely.
And with the slow trickle of players being amnestied, it's unlikely they'll find many other players, if any, via waivers. Baron Davis may be let go by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the New York Knicks appear intent to swoop in, irrespective of his back issues. James Posey is currently working his way through the system, though he doesn't exactly fill a need for Miami, especially with Shane Battier on board.
In other words, if Pat Riley is intent on finding help for the Heat in the bargain bin, he'd be wise to stay away from the shallow one labeled "Amnesty".
