I'm starting to think we shouldn't use the amnesty clause this year... Just to free up room for brown??? Instead I'd save it so you have the option of clearing brands salary going into his last year, clearing 16m a year early could be very helpful especially if we do something with Iggy between now and then.
That's possibly the most intelligent thing I've read on this board in a long time. It really doesn't make sense to amnesty Nocioni to clear off $6 million from the cap for one year. The Sixers won't be able to make a major move even if Nocioni's contract comes off. The only reason I would amnesty Nocioni is in the event some team offers Thad a big contract and the Sixers need the money to match that offer.
Amnestying (is that a word?) Brand this year doesn't make sense either. He is still a productive player and a leader. I haven't been a huge fan of Brand and have been critical of some of his behavior in the past, but I think he's a good influence on the younger players. I would keep Brand for this season to help mentor and also to prevent developing a losing culture on the team. Can't cut the leader and one of the team's best players without affecting morale.
None of the free agents from this years crop - West, Nene...- are going to be difference makers on the current Sixers. So to me it makes no sense to use the amnesty move. Pocket it and save it for later.
One year from now, Dwight Howard and some other players will be free agents and would be worth using the amnesty clause to attempt to acquire them. Wouldn't it be great if Jrue, Evan and Thad continue to progress this season, make the playoffs and get some experience and then use the amnesty clause on Brand in his final year to clear off $18 million a year to go after a top level free agent? Not to mention Nocioni's contract will expire and provided no one offers Hawes an offer the Sixers choose to match, Hawes and his roughly $4 million could come off the cap. Additionally Brackins and Speights could come off the books too. Meeks will become a restricted free agent.
So Philly could head in to the 2012 offseason with Iguodala, Lou Will, Turner, Holiday, Thad (let's say Thad signs for around $6 million a year) and Vucevic (let's guess his salary will be around $2 million) under contract and only have roughly $37 million on the cap. They'll have roughly $21 million to spend on free agents. That could get you a premier free agent and a very good one. And you could easily move Vucevic and his salary to get to around $23 million to spend on free agents. Not only that, you could be a player in the trade market. Suddenly the future doesn't look so shabby.
Factoring in the short season, I would opt for status quo this season, see how things shake out and which players make progress. I'd aim for making a big splash in the 2012 free agent market. By then, things will be a lot clearer.