With the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder competing for the Western Conference championship and the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics competing for the Eastern Conference championship, the other 26 teams in the NBA need to prepare for next season. Included with the offseason decisions is the ability to waive a player via the amnesty clause.
Regarding the amnesty clause, these teams have used the clause thus far:
For those readers wondering, Rip Hamilton was given a buyout rather than amnestied by the Detroit Pistons.
As for the 4 teams left standing, here are their amnesty situations:
Regarding the amnesty clause, these teams have used the clause thus far:
- Brooklyn (formerly New Jersey) Nets: Travis Outlaw
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Baron Davis
- Golden State Warriors: Charlie Bell
- New York Knicks: Chauncey Billups
- Orlando Magic: Gilbert Arenas
- Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy
- *editor's note: omitted from original list - Indiana Pacers: James Posey
For those readers wondering, Rip Hamilton was given a buyout rather than amnestied by the Detroit Pistons.
Teams have 4 more years to utilize the amnesty clause. Here are some possible amnesty candidates--note: "future" means players will be amnesty candidates if they sustain ongoing/long-term injuries or really drop in production in the next couple of years or their teams suddenly decide to clean house and rebuild:
- Atlanta Hawks: Marvin Williams;
- future: Joe Johnson, Al Horford
- Charlotte Bobcats: Tyrus Thomas
- Chicago Bulls: Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng;
- future: Joakim Noah
- Dallas Mavericks: Brendan Haywood, Shawn Marion
- Denver Nuggets: Al Harrington;
- future: Arron Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari
- Detroit Pistons: Ben Gordon;
- future: Tayshaun Prince, Jonas Jerebko
- Houston Rockets:
- future: Luis Scola
Indiana Pacers: none- Los Angeles Clippers:
- future: DeAndre Jordan
- Los Angeles Lakers: Pau Gasol? (doubtful)
- Memphis Grizzlies:
- future: Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley Jr.
- Milwaukee Bucks: Drew Gooden, Beno Udrih;
- future: Luc Mbah a Moute
- Minnesota Timberwolves:
- future: J.J. Barea, Luke Ridnour
- New Orleans Hornets: Emeka Okafor
- Philadelphia 76ers:
- future: Thaddeus Young
- Phoenix Suns: Josh Childress, Channing Frye;
- future: Jared Dudley, Hakim Warrick, Marcin Gortat
- Sacramento Kings: John Salmons;
- future: Marcus Thornton, Chuck Hayes
- Toronto Raptors:
- future: Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani
- Utah Jazz: none
- Washington Wizards: Rashard Lewis, Andray Blatche;
- *note: team cannot amnesty Nene because he was acquired by trade during the 2011-12 season
As for the 4 teams left standing, here are their amnesty situations:
- Boston Celtics:
- future: Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo
- Miami Heat: Mike Miller;
- future: Chris Bosh
- Oklahoma City Thunder:
- future: Kendrick Perkins
- San Antonio Spurs: Matt Bonner;
- future: Tony Parker