NBA Free Agency: A Closer Look at Amnesty Selections

This summer, five teams exercised the amnesty provision they were given at the end of the 2011 lockout in order to save themselves some salary-cap space.

While the cap savings are a guaranteed benefit for the team, other factors, such as poor performance, were also taken into account when making these decisions. Let’s take a closer look at the players who are trying to find a new team, thanks to the amnesty provision:

Nagging injuries aside, Mike Miller can still be a huge asset on a contending team.

Mike Miller: One of the most clutch players in recent memory, Miller was given the amnesty axe by the Miami Heat in order to save themselves nearly three times what his yearly contract worth was ($6.2 million this upcoming season) in luxury taxes (approximately $17 million). Though health is a big factor for him at this point of his career, he showed in the Finals yet again that his dead-eye shooting from beyond the arc can help put a contending team over the top. Rumors teams of interest include the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies. OKC needs some more swingman support to soften the blow they’re still feeling from James Harden, Houston needs shooters to surround Dwight Howard, Denver has a hole at the 2/3 spot thanks to Andre Iguodala and the biggest weakness for Memphis last season clearly was outside shooting.

It’s difficult to see Tyrus Thomas reclaim the decent numbers he used to post earlier in his career. (Photo/joshuak8/Flickr)

Tyrus Thomas: Thomas was an example of the Charlotte Bobcats jumping the gun on a player’s potential, giving him a five-year, $40 million extension back in 2010 after only 25 games with the club and averaging 10 points and six rebounds. Since that agreement, Charlotte has seen a rough decline in his game to where he averaged just 4.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in the 26 games he played this past season. Waiving Thomas relieved their salary cap of a little more than $18 million over the next two years for a benchwarmer. Once seen as the LSU star with big potential, there have been no reports of teams interested in Thomas. He may need to look into taking his talents overseas soon.

Drew Gooden: Released by the Milwaukee Bucks, Gooden’s role has diminished to much less than what they expected when they signed him to a five-year, $32 million deal in 2010. A combination of injuries, DNPs and the emerging frontcourt duo of Larry Sanders and John Henson shoved Gooden to the end of bench, only playing in 16 games this past season. Clearly not the same player he was in 2010, even though many believe that contract was still not warranted at the time, Drew may find himself trying to convince a team to take him on with the minimum or even go into early retirement.

Linas Kleiza: The Lithuanian forward who last played for the Toronto Raptors may have shied off interest from teams around the league with rumors swirling that he wants to continue his career back in Europe. Kleiza has always been a solid contributor during his time in Denver and Toronto, but injuries held him from seeing his true potential. He only averaged 36 games played per season since his 2010 deal. Though he was owed the least amount of the amnesty group this season with $4.6 million for one more year, it seems as though this deal was a matter of shedding some extra space and making a roster spot where Toronto found the opportunity. With no expectation of Kleiza to sign another deal in the states, it seems as though his NBA career is coming to an end.

Metta World Peace is going back home. Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels, Flickr.com

Metta World Peace: The only player among the amnesty victims to find a new team already, World Peace, who was waived by the Lakers to reduce the luxury tax hit, was a smart addition to the New York Knicks. Whether he plays as a backup to Carmelo Anthony or he starts at the 3 with Melo sliding to the 4, he still carries a great defensive pedigree that is most brightly shined among the qualities he brings to a team. He’s obviously past his prime, but with the idea of a player coming to play for his home team and the Knicks blowing their chance on him back when he entered the league, it brings a good vibe of nostalgia and salvation to this New York story.