As we move forward with “Amnesty 2.0” in July, we will see the fascinating possibilities that the provision brings even as the number of teams and players left dwindles with time. One fun component of the rule is that we know exactly which players are eligible for it and that number can only decrease over time since the players had to have been under contract with the same team before the new CBA. As such, any trades, extensions, or contract expirations thin out the list. 

The other thing to remember is that most of the benefit of using the amnesty provision comes from additional flexibility in terms of the salary cap- the only money savings owners get from using it come from any reduction in luxury tax payments and whatever a “winning” team bids for that player on amnesty waivers.

Atlanta Hawks

Players Eligible for amnesty: Al Horford

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: None

Most likely amnesty decision: Not use it. Since the team traded all of its long-term contracts (except Horford) and potential candidates like Zaza Pachulia’s contracts expire this summer, the only player left for Atlanta to utilize the provision on is Horford. That is beyond unlikely.

Boston Celtics

Players Eligible for amnesty: Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Paul Pierce

Most likely amnesty decision: Not use it. After signing five different players to contracts over $5 million for 2013-14 this past off-season, the Celtics took all the incentive out of using the amnesty provision on Pierce in 2013.

Brooklyn Nets

Used amnesty provision on Travis Outlaw (December 15, 2011) 

Charlotte Bobcats

Players Eligible for amnesty: Tyrus Thomas

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Tyrus Thomas

Most likely amnesty decision: Tyrus Thomas in 2014. As of now, the Bobcats do not have enough salary on the books to necessitate making an amnesty move this coming summer. As such, the most likely play is to keep Thomas until the summer of 2014 when Ben Gordon’s contract is cleared from the ledger. As of now, Charlotte only has players on rookie deals and Brendan Haywood getting money then, so it could be the right time to strike.

Chicago Bulls

Players Eligible for amnesty: Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Carlos Boozer

Most likely amnesty decision: Carlos Boozer in 2014. The decision has become even clearer now, though the Taj Gibson extension could push the timeline up a little bit if the Bulls are feeling the pressure financially next summer. However, Boozer’s last year comes the same year that Luol Deng becomes a free agent, so a proactive Bulls team could make some FA/trade noise since they have less money on the books.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Used amnesty provision on Baron Davis (December 14, 2011) 

Dallas Mavericks

Used amnesty provision on Brendan Haywood (July 12, 2012)

Denver Nuggets

Used amnesty provision on Chris Andersen (July 17, 2012)

Detroit Pistons

Players Eligible for amnesty: Charlie Villanueva and Greg Monroe

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Charlie Villanueva

Most likely amnesty decision: Charlie Villanueva in 2013. It seemed like a foregone conclusion in 2012 and absolutely has to be done in 2013. I cannot see a tangible benefit to leaving his $8.58 million on the cap for 2013-14.

Golden State Warriors 

Used amnesty provision on Charlie Bell (December 11, 2011) 

Houston Rockets

Used amnesty provision on Luis Scola (July 13, 2012)

Indiana Pacers

Used amnesty provision on James Posey (December 12, 2011) 

Los Angeles Clippers

Used amnesty provision on Ryan Gomes (July 18, 2012)

Los Angeles Lakers

Players Eligible for amnesty: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, Steve Blake

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Metta World Peace, Steve Blake

Most likely amnesty decision: Metta World Peace in 2013. Since the Lakers have to decide about amnesty during the first week after the July moratorium, they will not have enough information on Kobe’s progress to amnesty him. Furthermore, they would only yield a big benefit if Dwight Howard leaves the Lakers and we likely will not know that at such an early stage in the process. Even though the Lakers continue to need a quality small forward in the worst way, shedding the final year of World Peace's onerous deal seems like the best play. 

Memphis Grizzlies

Players Eligible for amnesty: Zach Randolph, Mike Conley

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Zach Randolph (in 2014)

Most likely amnesty decision: Not use it. Shedding Rudy Gay’s big contract means that the Grizzlies do not have to amnesty anyone in order to avoid the biggest costs of the new luxury tax system. At the present time, the only salaries the team has on the books for 2014-15 are Randolph, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley Jr, Tayshaun Prince, Darrell Arthur and Tony Wroten. Add in a rookie or two and you still have a workable structure. At this point it feels more likely that Randolph would get traded than amnestied since he would still provide value to the team.

Miami Heat

Players Eligible for amnesty: Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Joel Anthony, Mike Miller

Most likely amnesty decision: Joel Anthony in 2014. The reigning champs did not lose a single player from their amnesty list over the past year thanks to roster stability. Mike Miller’s health could end up making him the pick but Joel Anthony’s $3.8 million final season stands out since the Heat do not have a veteran shooter locked up for 2014-15 at this time. Look for one of the two of them to be shed then, though.

Milwaukee Bucks

Players Eligible for amnesty: Drew Gooden and Larry Sanders

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Drew Gooden

Most likely amnesty decision: Drew Gooden in 2013. At this point, Drew Gooden’s two remaining years are the only reasonable option left for amnesty purposes. Considering Brandon Jennings will get a major pay raise this summer and the Bucks will need any flexibility they can get whether or not they retain either Monta Ellis or JJ Redick, look for Gooden to go even though the team stands unlikely to benefit in any way other than cap room. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Used amnesty provision on Darko Milicic (July 12, 2012)

New Orleans Hornets

Players Eligible for amnesty: No one

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: No one

Most likely amnesty decision: Not use it. By trading all three players eligible for the amnesty provision (Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza and Jarrett Jack), the Hornets became the first team to be assured not to use it this time around.

New York Knicks

Used amnesty provision on Chauncey Billups (December 10, 2011)

Oklahoma City Thunder

Players Eligible for amnesty: Kevin Durant, Kendrick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Kendrick Perkins

Most likely amnesty decision:  Not use it. We will have to see how Sam Presti handles the Kendrick Perkins situation but my read is that they will not utilize it after either of the next two seasons. Nick Collison would have a slight chance in 2014 if he were not so popular with the team and management.

Orlando Magic 

Used amnesty provision on Gilbert Arenas (December 9, 2011) 

Philadelphia 76ers

Used amnesty provision on Elton Brand (July 12, 2012)

Phoenix Suns

Used amnesty provision on Josh Childress (July 16, 2012)

Portland Trail Blazers

Used amnesty provision on Brandon Roy (December 15, 2011)

Sacramento Kings

Players Eligible for amnesty: John Salmons, DeMarcus Cousins

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: John Salmons

Most likely amnesty decision: John Salmons in 2013. Since Salmons’s deal is only partially guaranteed ($1 million) in 2014-15, the Kings would have some flexibility in the 2013 offseason when Evans can be extended and Cousins will be one year away if they cut him loose at that point. With new ownership looking to make a splash, having some extra money this offseason could be useful to the Kings.

San Antonio Spurs

Players Eligible for amnesty: Tony Parker and Matt Bonner

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Matt Bonner

Most likely amnesty decision: Not use it. Bonner’s partially guaranteed 2013-2014 salary would be a possibility but appears unlikely at best.

Toronto Raptors

Players Eligible for amnesty: Andrea Bargnani, Amir Johnson, Linas Kleiza

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: Linas Kleiza, Andrea Bargnani

Most likely amnesty decision: Linas Kleiza in 2013. Utilizing amnesty on Bargnani would be too big an admission of defeat for management, though theoretically a change at the top coupled with more bad play could change the equation sufficiently to put Il Mago on the amnesty line. With that, getting a little bit more space in terms of the apron/tax line would be good for the Raptors if they are unwilling to bite the bigger bullet in the form of Bargnani.

Utah Jazz

Players Eligible for amnesty:  Derrick Favors

Reasonable candidates for amnesty: None

Most likely amnesty decision: Not use it. With only young buck Derrick Favors left as eligible to be amnestied, every conceivable sign points to the Jazz joining the Hornets in August 2013 as teams guaranteed not to use the provision.

Washington Wizards

Used amnesty provision on Andray Blatche (July 17, 2012)

With Mikhail Prokhorov moving the Nets to Brooklyn, he vowed to challenge the New York Knicks for supremacy locally and the rest of the NBA for a title.

Prokhorov spared no expense to validate his proclamations last offseason by collecting over $300 million in guaranteed contracts. However, despite Billy King’s roster overhaul and an in-season coaching change, the Nets were unable to advance out of the first round of the playoffs.

Money couldn’t buy chemistry or consistency; something Brooklyn’s veteran core feels will improve next season.

“We were learning on the fly this season,” said Brook Lopez. “I think we learned a lot and we have a lot of offseason to really get to work out together, hammer a lot of things out that we didn’t do well this season and come back next year, learn some more together, and get some more wins.” 

Lopez and his teammates will have more learning to do once training camp begins. King announced the Nets would not retain interim coach P.J. Carlesimo, which will have the Nets playing under their third coach in less than 12 months.

After obtaining the fourth seed and homecourt advantage in the first round against the Chicago Bulls, Lopez believes losing Game 7 at home will give Brooklyn extra motivation heading into the summer.

“It’s something for us to look at this offseason, a feeling to remember as we work out in the offseason,” said Lopez.

Despite spending much of the season developing chemistry, leading to subsequent consistency lapses, Deron Williams is encouraged by the glimpses Brooklyn showed of being a contender when clicking on all cylinders.

“We had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of turmoil and things to fight through, but we still had fun doing it,” said Williams. “I think this experience is going to make us tougher as a group. It’s a learning experience for all of us together, this being our first year together. We still have got a ways to go. We can be good and we’ve shown glimpses of being a really good team. I think the main thing is we were inconsistent as a group starting from the beginning of the season.”

Williams also noted that the Nets must become mentally tougher, but believes the current roster is capable.

“I think we have a great group of guys in the locker room,” said Williams. “We talked about the word inconsistency all season. I just think we need to find a way to be more consistent, especially mentally.”

After losing Game 3 by three points and losing Game 4 in triple overtime, Joe Johnson believes the Nets showed fight.

“We overcame a lot,” said Johnson. “Being down 3-1 in the series and being able to come back to send it to a Game 7 here on our home floor, we felt really good about it and we just came up short.”

With Brooklyn’s veteran core in tact, the Nets must hire a new coach capable of utilizing Williams’ strength in pick-and-roll sets, Johnson’s shooting ability, and Lopez’s expanding offensive repertoire on the block and in pick-and-pop sets.

While the Nets' core is secured contractually for the foreseeable future, the same cannot be said for the bench.

King’s main trade chips are Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks. Humphries enters the final year of his contract at $12 million and Brooks’ potential remains under control for two seasons on his rookie deal.

C.J. Watson has a player option for next season, while Andray Blatche, Keith Bogans and Jerry Stackhouse are unrestricted free agents.

With Brooklyn over the salary cap threshold, King may lose two of his most productive bench players. Blatche, Brooklyn’s only double-figure scorer off the bench, is expected to be too costly for the Nets to re-sign.

Watson, who often played alongside Williams, may use his opt-out clause in his deal for a long-term deal elsewhere.

It is imperative for the Nets to sustain the chemistry they developed this season and translate it into consistency next season to fulfill Prokhorov’s goals. 

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The key to the Brooklyn Nets' Game 5 win over the Chicago Bulls, and maintaining that momentum for Game 6 on the road is aggressiveness.

The Nets were led by strong performances from Brook Lopez and Deron Williams, along with strong bench play from Andray Blatche, Kris Humphries and C.J. Watson.

“We came out very aggressive as we have the past few games,” said Lopez. “I think the difference was just that we sustained it for essentially a full 48 minutes tonight and we really came together as a team. I think we really played through the entire shot clock and really turned our good looks into great looks.”

Lopez has been an interior force for the Nets, ranking second in blocked shots during the playoffs (3.4) and sixth in scoring average (23.6). Lopez's 28 points was his highest output of the series.

“You could see the look in his eyes tonight, he had it going,” said Williams. “He was rebounding the ball. He was scoring the ball. He’s been great defensively for us all series with his blocked shots and clogging up the paint. He was just a monster tonight.”

Williams took advantage of the injury to Kirk Hinrich and was able to penetrate through Chicago’s strong side defense to finish with 23 points and 10 assists. Williams was aggressive attacking Nate Robinson off the dribble and attempted 10 free throws.

“You know Kirk is a good defender,” said Williams. “You know he’s tough. He fouls, he gets into you. You know he does what he’s supposed to do; he tries to get under your screen. It’s definitely a different look between Nate and Kirk.”

While Brooklyn was anchored by Lopez and Williams, the play of Blatche, Humphries and Watson should not be overlooked.

“We got a huge lift off the bench from Andray Blatche, Kris Humphries and C.J. Watson in particular,” said P.J. Carlesimo.

Blatche led the bench in scoring with 13 points.

“My main thing was I wanted to get the ball into the paint and be aggressive, not settle for jump shots,” said Blatche. “I tried to stay in attack mode and I was successful doing it.”

Humphries led the bench with six rebounds while Watson scored 11 points.

“We just came out aggressive,” said Watson. “We came out desperate for a win and that’s how we played.”

As Brooklyn heads to Chicago for Game 6, there are some interesting statistics to keep in mind. The Nets have won both games in the series at home while shooting over 50 percent from the field and scoring more points in the paint than the Bulls. 

“We’ve just got to remember everything we did tonight,” said Blatche. “Don’t take anything for granted. Go out there and be as aggressive as possible on defense and bring our own energy to Chicago and we should be successful with that.”

According to Watson, Brooklyn must improve down the stretch to win Game 6.

“Just stay aggressive offensively and defensively and once we get a lead, try to close it out and get a win,” said Watson.

Gerald Wallace said the Nets must take the Bulls out of their comfort zone early on the road.

“We have to stay aggressive,” said Wallace. “Right now, it’s win or go home. I think they were expecting to go back to Chicago. I think they felt more comfortable playing in Chicago. We just have to go in, play our 48-minute game, and steal one in Chicago.”

Joe Johnson believes Brooklyn’s Game 5 win may give the team enough momentum for the rest of the series.

“I still think we have a chance to come back and win this series,” said Johnson. “On saying that, we really need to buckle down in Game 6 and leave it all out there on the line like we did tonight.” 

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