DENVER NUGGETS: Used on Chris Andersen (1 year, $4.8 million), who signed with Miami as a free agent and was a key cog in the repeat. (andersen was expendable playing behind Kosta Joufos, JaValeMcGee and Timoget Mozgov). The room created may help them keep free agents Andre Iguodala and/or Corey Brewer this summer.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: While there was much joy in the Bay area following the success of this season, it must be pointed out that Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry are free agents. It would be a lot easier to re-sign them if the Warriors hadn’t foolishly used their provision on Charlie Bell, whose one year at $4.1 million is already off their books, and instead used it on Andris Biedrins (1 year, $9 million).
HOUSTON ROCKETS: Part of GM Daryl Morey’s trip down the rabbit hole last summer included using amnesty on Luis Scola (2 years, $12.2 million). 
Ultimately, releasing Scola helped land James Harden – and the removal of his cap figure could help this summer in Morey’s pursuit of Dwight Howard. Scola’s annual salary was in the $10 million range but was reduced when Phoenix won the bid for him with a three-year, $13.5 million deal.
INDIANA PACERS: When Indiana’s great postseason run ended, more than a few fans ventured the idea of using the provision on Danny Granger, given his balky knee and Paul George’s development into an All-Star. Alas, the Pacers have already used their provision on James Posey, who came off the books last summer. His missing money helped the Pacers match Portland’s maximum offer sheet to Roy Hibbert and re-sign George Hill. Posey has not played since. Why would he?
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: Used last summer on Ryan Gomes, whose $4 million removal allowed for the signing of free agent Grant Hill. The maneuver looked smart until Hill hobbled through this season, then retired.
(RELATED: HEISLER ON CLIPPERS: Dear Donald, Congratulations.)
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: Former GM David Kahn fixed his own mistake last summer when he waived Darko Milicic via amnesty. The $5.2 million saved helped him bring in Andrei Kirilenko at $20 million over two years, a serious upgrade that made Kevin Love happy for a change. Now that Kirilenko has opted out of Year Two, the jury goes out again on this one.
NEW YORK KNICKS: Shortly after the lockout ended, GM Glen Grunwald wasted no time using the provision on Chauncey Billups, clearing his $14.2 million to facilitate the signing of Tyson Chandler, who has become the backbone of New York’s defense. The Clippers snagged Billups with a winning bid of just over $2 million, but the former Finals MVP tore his Achilles tendon and hasn’t been the same since.
ORLANDO MAGIC: Already used on Gilbert Arenas, one of several candidates left for Rob Hennigan by previous GM Otis Smith. Dumping Arenas and his $62 million over three years saved a bunch of luxury tax, but they still have a handful of bad contracts and – along with the Lakers – are the favorite to be the first team to use the stretch provision.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: Used amnesty on Elton Brand, saving $18 million and getting under the tax threshold to activate their exceptions – then used them to the tune of $9 million on Nick Young and Kwame Brown. That was almost as shrewd as trading for Andrew Bynum, a free agent whose cap hold limits Philadelphia’s offseason options. Brand ended up with Dallas, which made a successful bid of $2.1 million.
PHOENIX SUNS: Have been very active on both sides of the amnesty provision. First, they used theirs on Josh Childress, who was given a ridiculous five-year, $33 million deal upon his return from Greece in 2010. That removed about $21 million over three years, and last summer a portion of that went to Luis Scola in a three-year, $13.5 million deal, the largest bid on any player waived through amnesty.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: Used their provision on Brandon Roy, the type of player for whom amnesty was created. Roy was a true star with a max deal who was done in by a degenerative knee condition. He had four years and $63.5 million left on his deal, and letting him go saved owner Paul Allen millions in potential future luxury taxes. His immediate release cleared space to sign Jamal Crawford, who left after one season via free agency, and some extra dough to match Minnesota’s offer sheet last summer to Nicolas Batum.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Part of GM Ernie Grunfeld’s culture cleanup over the last couple of years was using amnesty on Andray Blatche, who still is owed $16.1 million over two years. No one bid on Blatche, who later got a non-guaranteed veteran’s minimum deal from Brooklyn. He made the most of it, resurrecting his career with awesome per-minute and PER numbers as he enters free agency. We have him ranked No. 23 in Moke Hamilton’s Top 50 free agents.
Chris Bernucca is the deputy editor of SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear Monday during the season. You can follow him on Twitter.
Free knowledge like this doesn’t just help, it promote democracy. Thank you.
Which came first, the problem or the solution? Luckily it doesn’t matter.
Whoever edits and publishes these articles really knows what they’re doing.
I’m quite pleased with the information in this one. TY!
How could any of this be better stated? It couldn’t.
That kind of thinking shows you’re an expert
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I guess finding useful, reliable information on the internet isn’t hopeless after all.
Well put, sir, well put. I’ll certainly make note of that.
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That’s a skillful answer to a difficult question
I’ve been looking for a post like this forever (and a day)
Chris, I’m not sure I follow your logic (or math).
Right now, without Dwight, the Lakers have 77M under contract. Signing Dwight to a max deal that starts at around 18M would push them to 95M. Amnestying Kobe drops us to 65M. While that is under the luxury tax, it’s still over the salary cap, meaning we cannot sign FAs like Tyreke/Jennings.
As far as a sign-and-trade goes… As long as the salaries match up, whether we are over the luxury tax or not is irrelevant. So what’s the point of all of this?
If they amnesty Kobe first and sign Dwight last, they can get below the cap and sign free agents. That would require convincing the most indecisive person since Charlie Brown to sit tight, but it is possible.
That’s technically not correct. Because Lakers have Dwight’s Bird rights he leaves a cap hold on their books. So if they amnesty Kobe, if they want to sign new FAs while Dwight is in limbo, they would need to renounce their Bird rights to him, at which point they would no longer be able to go over the cap to re-sign him.
Anyways, all of this is moot since he’s gonna be going to HOU in a couple of hours…
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Now I’m like, well duh! Truly thankful for your help.
The genius store called, they’re running out of you.
That’s a shrewd answer to a tricky question
It’s a relief to find someone who can explain things so well
That’s the best answer of all time! JMHO
It’s posts like this that make surfing so much pleasure
Well I guess I don’t have to spend the weekend figuring this one out!
I’m impressed by your writing. Are you a professional or just very knowledgeable?
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Yeah that’s what I’m talking about baby–nice work!
I guess finding useful, reliable information on the internet isn’t hopeless after all.
There’s a terrific amount of knowledge in this article!
That’s the smart thinking we could all benefit from.
I’m quite pleased with the information in this one. TY!
You mean I don’t have to pay for expert advice like this anymore?!
I ran the idea of amnestying Kobe, and bringing him back in July 2014 by Larry Coon in May.
Coon thought too many ifs, but its worth revisiting.
Kobe claims that by doing surgery before swelling set in, he reduced recovery time and he really seems to believe he can be back by early December. However, even HE must admit it would be better to take off more time and try to return closer to 100%.
Question is would new Commissioner allow this (collusion) since it would have to be prearranged that Kobe would be returning to Lakers for Vet Min.
Not clear how you expect Howard to be part of Lakers team? Only without Howard and Kobe’s salary would Lakers have about 48 M in salary (must include Cap Holds), enough for a 10 M FA giving a discount to Lakers. Lakers though should have full MLE and able to use BAE and be free to receive players in S&T. Same for next summer before re-signing Kobe with Vet Min.
Lakers definitely would enter 2014-2015 season in much better shape and would have avoided the repeater tax.
We will be hearing more of this option, once Howard agrees to go to Houston in next few days.
Jerry,
Yes, you’re right – this summer would have to be sign-and-trades, which aren’t in mix if Kobe is not amnestied. Would think idea of playing with Howard and Nash, then re-adding Kobe also might get someone to accept MLE even though they’re worth more.
Kobe wouldn’t necessarily have to take vet min, either. It depends upon how many players are signed to one-year deals this summer and how many are actually wanted back. Pau and MWP might be candidates to be renounced, which would get Lakers way under cap. Or they could trade Pau’s expiring deal for other expiring deals or a player(s) who is a good fit.
It’s a one-year backwards step (although not really; you would think any team with Dwight in middle would be in playoffs) to take quantum leap forward back into title contention. Dwight also has to be on board with it. Thanks for reading.
CB
Seriously, you’re the 347th writer to have mentioned this idea in the last year, 318 of them since he hurt himself.
Not exactly. Most of those Amnesty writers didn’t consider Kobe’s sitting out year to rehabilitate and then being a FA again, to re-sign with Lakers for a Minimum.
I thought of that scenario immediately after Kobe’s injury, since I always expected Howard (and documented) going to Houston, thus giving Lakers plenty of cap space and other advantages.
This is silly…. If Kobe does not play this season the Lakers can simply request a year injury exception. This would allow the Lakers to “replace” Kobe and then resign him next July when his current contract runs out.
“Disabled Player Exception”
Allows a team that is over the cap to acquire a replacement for a disabled player who will be out for either the remainder of that season (for in-season injuries/deaths) or the next season (if the disability occurs during the offseason). The maximum salary of the replacement player is either 50% of the injured player’s salary, or the mid-level exception for a non-taxpaying team, whichever is less. This exception requires an NBA-designated doctor to verify the extent of the injury.”
I didn’t see the Cavs anywhere on your list. What’s their amnesty situation? Otherwise, this was a very good, helpful piece. Thanks.
Somehow got lost in the cut and paste. Restored. Thanks.
Toronto can so use the amnesty on Linas Kleiza as well.