Teams who won't use amnesty clause

[cameroncrazies2]

As we draw closer to the amnesty clause deadline, July 2015 for this CBA, there are a number of teams who haven't yet used their amnesty clause, but could and have the players on their roster that, if utilized, could benefit their team for the better.

Teams who haven't used the clause: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago Detroit,LA Lakers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah.

There are a number of players on almost every one of those teams that slashing the salary from the books would be beneficial for the team. You would think at this point, no team is likely to sign a contract that by July 2015, they'd amnesty, so it would come from a player on their current roster, so why wait any longer? Will there be teams who don't use it at all, and if so, why? I think this will really show who is the cheapest teams, unwilling to utilize a provision that allows them to make their team better, yet will still have to pay that player almost under the table.

One interesting wrinkle...could teams start to use it as a trade sweetener? I have salary cap available, and you trade me Overpaid Player X for the sole purpose to amnesty him, but included with that you'd have to offer me two 1st round picks and a prospect for "cash considerations" or a 2nd round pick. Almost in the form of the Kurt Thomas to OKC trade from Phoenix a few years back where the Suns traded two 1st round picks and Thomas to OKC for a 2nd round pick which was essentially, "here, we don't want to pay this guy anymore, so if you do it, we'll reward you with these picks."

[The Rebel]

You can only use the amnesty on a player that was on the roster the day the CBA was agreed too.

Teams also still have to pay the money, so in effect it is a tax on the team that uses it, as you have to pay money with no benefit to the actual team, so the idea that a team will use the amnesty to avoid the luxury tax by paying a player too go away is not going to work for small market teams, or teams that have a bigger need for bodies then they do to save money.

[Blame Rasho]

You can only use the amnesty on a player that was on the roster the day the CBA was agreed too.

Teams also still have to pay the money, so in effect it is a tax on the team that uses it, as you have to pay money with no benefit to the actual team, so the idea that a team will use the amnesty to avoid the luxury tax by paying a player too go away is not going to work for small market teams, or teams that have a bigger need for bodies then they do to save money.

Thanks for posting that...

You have to use guys that were on your team... it isn't like a trade exception that can be thrown in.

[Lord_Zedd]

More than likely the Raptors will use theirs on Linas Kleiza unless our new GM (Hoping) decides to do justice and amnesty Bargnani. Detroit will probably do it up with Charlie V this summer and, wouldn't be surprised if Milwaukee and Charlotte use theirs on Gooden and Tyrus Thomas next year.

[cameroncrazies2]

Thanks for the clarification.

[Sofia]

Of the teams listed, 1 of them (I think it's New Orleans) can't use their amnesty as all their current roster were signed or acquired after the new CBA.

[ciueli]

Actually I believe there is a possible benefit of using the amnesty beyond just avoiding tax payments. If the amnestied player is picked up by another team, any money the player is paid offsets the amount being payed by the team that used the amnesty. I think there's a blind bidding process and the player goes to whichever team paid the most (that's how the Clippers got Chauncey Billups after New York amnestied him).

[sule]

If Toronto's really getting a new GM, i hope to God he uses it on Bargnani as his first decision. It'd set the tone for a new era better than any other move.

[dike77]

Thunder wont use it because Presti doesnt want to admit several (!) terrible decisions, all related with Perkins

[darkangle901]

*double post

[darkangle901]

OKC may use it on Perkins (although he's still trade-able so maybe not).

Memphis may use it on Randolph in a year or two.

[Greenraida]

OKC may use it on Perkins (although he's still trade-able so maybe not).

Memphis may use it on Randolph in a year or two.

tradeable to who?

[The Rebel]

Actually I believe there is a possible benefit of using the amnesty beyond just avoiding tax payments. If the amnestied player is picked up by another team, any money the player is paid offsets the amount being payed by the team that used the amnesty. I think there's a blind bidding process and the player goes to whichever team paid the most (that's how the Clippers got Chauncey Billups after New York amnestied him).

Sure teams can save a little money, I think Billups got $2 million, Brand got a little over $2 million, of course even if a team was to sign a minimum type player they saved 1 million dollars or so to have an aging star replaced by a DLeague type borderline player. In other words the Knicks paid $12 million for Billups to play in LA while they were forced to pay Mike Bibby the minimum the 76ers paid Brand $16 million to play for the Mavs. The Nuggets amnestied Andersen and are paying him $9.3 million due to a skank trying to set him up, and he also got a deal for the minimum to be a difference maker for the Heat. Now do you really think that a team would be happy to pay millions of dollars for a player to be elsewhere, especially if they have a limited budget?

[The Rebel]

Thunder wont use it because Presti doesnt want to admit several (!) terrible decisions, all related with Perkins

OKC is by far the smallest market in the league, right now with current contracts and draft pick cap holds the thunder are going to be at a payroll of $70.5 million in payroll, what makes anybody realistically think that the owners are going to okay Perkins to go away, while the team will have to add at least an MLE type big to replace Perkins. which puts by far the smallest market team in the league effectively paying around $13 million to replace Perkins with an MLE type big.

[StocktonShorts]

I think the only players eligible for amnesty on the Jazz are Hayward and Favors. So no, I don't think they'll be using the amnesty provision.

[EArl]

Everyone say goodbye to Metta

[bigpimpatl]

Thunder wont use it because Presti doesnt want to admit several (!) terrible decisions, all related with Perkins

OKC is by far the smallest market in the league, right now with current contracts and draft pick cap holds the thunder are going to be at a payroll of $70.5 million in payroll, what makes anybody realistically think that the owners are going to okay Perkins to go away, while the team will have to add at least an MLE type big to replace Perkins. which puts by far the smallest market team in the league effectively paying around $13 million to replace Perkins with an MLE type big.

that's true, but if they amnesty perkins they'll be able to use the full MLE. Right now they can only use the tax payers MLE. Of course that depends on there being a player they want at that price in the first place. They will avoid being luxury tax payers as well.

[The Rebel]

Thunder wont use it because Presti doesnt want to admit several (!) terrible decisions, all related with Perkins

OKC is by far the smallest market in the league, right now with current contracts and draft pick cap holds the thunder are going to be at a payroll of $70.5 million in payroll, what makes anybody realistically think that the owners are going to okay Perkins to go away, while the team will have to add at least an MLE type big to replace Perkins. which puts by far the smallest market team in the league effectively paying around $13 million to replace Perkins with an MLE type big.

that's true, but if they amnesty perkins they'll be able to use the full MLE. Right now they can only use the tax payers MLE. Of course that depends on there being a player they want at that price in the first place. They will avoid being luxury tax payers as well.

Avoiding paying the luxury tax is nice, until you figure out that they still are paying Perkins almost $9+ million a year which is a kind of tax anyways. making the Thunder have a payroll of a total of around $76 million to upgrade from Perkins to an MLE center.

[Mk0]

Chicago can amnesty Boozer, but it isn't happening this summer.

[bigpimpatl]

OKC is by far the smallest market in the league, right now with current contracts and draft pick cap holds the thunder are going to be at a payroll of $70.5 million in payroll, what makes anybody realistically think that the owners are going to okay Perkins to go away, while the team will have to add at least an MLE type big to replace Perkins. which puts by far the smallest market team in the league effectively paying around $13 million to replace Perkins with an MLE type big.

that's true, but if they amnesty perkins they'll be able to use the full MLE. Right now they can only use the tax payers MLE. Of course that depends on there being a player they want at that price in the first place. They will avoid being luxury tax payers as well.

Avoiding paying the luxury tax is nice, until you figure out that they still are paying Perkins almost $9+ million a year which is a kind of tax anyways. making the Thunder have a payroll of a total of around $76 million to upgrade from Perkins to an MLE center.

no disagreement there. All I can say is avoiding the luxury tax is key because of the repeat offender tax payments which would limit flexibility down the road. Plus it won't actually be the full salary if teams bid for him so there's that.

I personally think the thunder should use their high lotto pick to draft a project C and sign like, Nazr Mohammed or similar. Start Collison, then have vet C play backup. Then halfway in the season start playing the rookie. I think that is much better than the negative production the Thunder got from Perkins.