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. The addition of Chris Duhon makes Steve Blake a slightly greater possibility but he still appears moveable via trade and provides fair value to the team.

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)

MILWAUKEE – LeBron James waited and waited for Ray Allen near midcourt on Thursday night, waited for an embrace. These had been just a few minutes, but James still was biding time. He leaned left to right, his arms folded, and impatience grew. Finally, the two hugged, whispered into each other’s ears and marched into the locker room with the Miami Heat’s 3-0 series lead over the Bucks in the first round.

Waiting out these several minutes was nothing for James – nothing compared to the years of recruitment it took to convince Allen to sign with the Heat last offseason. Even when James and Allen had been playoff rivals, an offseason dialogue existed. “Let’s join. Let’s join. Let’s join,” James would tell Allen, then with the Boston Celtics. And each year, James’ subtle pitch would fall short.

Only Allen had come around now, and he sent James a message over the phone last July that sent LeBron into excitement in his Las Vegas summer camp:

“The time is now.”

The wait was over. Playing with James was always an attraction for players, but without a title, without Miami, he’d never brought along an established player like Allen with plenty of talent and production left. Five three-pointers later in the Heat’s 104-91 Game 3 win, Allen surpassed Reggie Miller’s playoff record – 322 three-pointers over 10 postseasons. Five three-pointers later, and a Celtics' first-round elimination appearing imminent, Allen again validated his decision to join James and these Heat.

For the Heat, a legitimate road test won’t come in the first round, when the most hostile challenge put forth from the Bucks’ crowd will assuredly be a jumbotron video that mocked James and Chris Bosh. With Dwyane Wade scoring just four points and dealing with a forearm injury – which won’t be an issue, he said, after he receives treatment heading into Sunday’s closeout game – Allen poured in 23 points and found himself given shooting room repeatedly Thursday. This is the beauty, the ease, of playing with James.

“This is what we’ve been talking about for a while,” James said. “I’ve always tried to be in [Allen’s] ear. I knew what he was able to do against me in the past and I knew that threat could add another dimension to our team that we haven’t had in our first two years.

“He seemed like he had a fresh start, a breath of fresh air, being part of our franchise.”

As far as reluctance goes, Allen has none playing behind Wade. There is no feeling slighted by his coach, no battling a young guard like Avery Bradley for stature. Mostly, Allen knows he’s wanted again, and Erik Spoelstra reminds that to everyone within the Heat’s locker room, everyone outside it. “We don’t take him for granted,” he said.

In the end, the Celtics took Allen – his shooting, his tireless preparation techniques that have been absorbed by James – for granted. From the start, the Heat made clear he wouldn’t feel that way again. Back with the Celtics, Allen’s value began to debilitate. With the Heat, his pedigree and experience are always fresh. James gives him respect and praise at every turn. Wade believes that Allen bails him out of shooting slumps.

“This team, these guys truly, truly love each other,” Allen said. “Whether you’re on the floor or on the bench, we’re always trying to find a way to help. … There’s no animosities, no egos out there.”

As Allen walked out of Bradley Center late Thursday, he smiled with family members near the court, pointing out how these rims feel so old, so familiar, to him. Most of his teammates were already long gone back to the hotel, but Allen took his family from outside the locker room to courtside, soaking in the beginning of a playoff run late in his career.

James waited and waited in his recruitment for Allen, waiting for a response to the pitches he has made over the years. The possibility started out as friendly, subdued offers, but it always stayed with Allen. When his career with the Celtics deteriorated, Ray Allen finally came back to LeBron James with the message both men wanted, and, yes, the time is now.

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Norris Cole hasn’t exactly set the NBA on fire in his second season, but that hasn’t always been his fault. The Miami Heat, streaking towards their second-straight championship, quite obviously lean heavily on LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

After the Big Three, Cole falls in line behind three more players in minutes (Mario Chalmers, Ray Allen and Shane Battier). Miami’s stellar offensive spacing allows for open three-point attempts for the trio. Cole’s usage rate has actually dropped this season (from 21.8 percent last season to 17 percent in 2012-13). When on the floor, Cole tends to blend into the scenery. He ranks just 10th on the Heat in the statistic.

Part of the reason Cole has been less involved has been the strong play of Allen and Chris Andersen, who weren’t with the Heat during last year’s title run.

“We have a lot of veterans on this team, more this year than last year,” Cole told RealGM. “We added Ray [Allen] and Birdman. It’s pretty good, pretty stable in the locker room. We’ve got a lot of experience.”

Cole is very comfortable in his role despite being the youngest player on the roster. Winning helps, but it’s rare that a 24-year-old accepts that he isn’t even close to the focal point of a team’s attack.

“I watch the whole game to see how I can put my touch on it while positively affecting the team,” he said when asked if he looks at fouls or poor play as an indication that he might get the call.

Averaging 19.6 minutes this season, Cole has benefited recently from Erik Spoelstra’s decision to rest his stars as the playoffs approach. In the month of April, the guard is averaging 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists on 47.8% shooting. Perhaps at the urging of Miami’s staff, he has worked on his perimeter shot. He’s hitting 58.8% from deep over the last eight games.

On Monday night, Cole starred in 43 minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He notched 16 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists on 6-for-12 shooting as the Heat won 96-95. On the deciding play, he stripped Kyrie Irving to ensure the victory. Spoelstra undoubtedly valued that more than the near-triple-double.

“I wanted to stay between him and the basket,” Cole told reporters of the final play. “I had a chance to strip the ball and I did. In situations like that the game’s on the line. You have to buckle up and play the best defense you can.”

The Heat won’t have to play without LeBron and Co. in the postseason, but the ability of the team to continue winning while the stars rest is a testament to their continuity. There will be moments in the playoffs when foul trouble, minor injuries or schemes will throw role players like Cole and Rashard Lewis into a featured role. Cole told RealGM the entire roster is always ready.

“We are a professional group and we are ready to go all the time, he said. “Adding Ray, Rashard and Birdman has added some hunger to our team. Because of that, you could say that we are even hungrier as a team. We want to win for each other, and that’s the most important thing.”

Cole played just under 10 minutes a game during 2012’s title run, but his role grew a bit in the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In a six-point Game 4 win that put the Heat one win away from a championship, he had eight points in just eight minutes.

It isn’t lost on Cole that he was extremely lucky not only to win a ring in his rookie season, but also to share a locker room with a handful of future Hall of Famers.

“Last year, after the season was over I thought about it while I was at home with my family and friends,” he reflected to RealGM. “It’s kind of crazy to think about it, but during the season I’m just thinking about trying to get better and help make the team better. I understand I’m in a blessed situation and I’m going to take full advantage of it.”

He has taken full advantage of the athleticism surrounding him this season. Cole has connected with Wade and James on a number of alley-oops, including a pair in back-to-back games last month.

Cole found Wade for a three-quarters court dunk on March 17 against the Toronto Raptors that is among the most exciting plays of the season.

“When I got the rebound, I looked up and I saw Dwyane,” he recalled. “I waited a second for him to get closer to the rim so that he wouldn’t have to take a dribble. I used to be a quarterback, so I knew I just had to put it somewhere near the rim and he’d do the rest. As guards, we are taught to keep our heads up.”

Two days later, he was on the front end of LeBron’s epic dunk over Jason Terry in Boston.

“It’s just instinctual,” Cole said of throwing an alley-oop pass. “These guys on the team are great athletes, so it makes it easy for a guy like me to just put the ball in a reasonable place. Their talent takes over after that.”

There will undoubtedly come a time this postseason when the Heat will need Norris Cole to contribute something in order to win a game. It may be by hitting an open three, finding a teammate near the rim or simply by contributing quality minutes to the second unit. When that time comes, Cole will be ready and grateful for the opportunity.