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)

MILWAUKEE – In a new city with a new franchise, John Lucas III found himself in a similar situation as in the past, an adjustment period to a fresh set of teammates and coaches. Lucas has had several transitional moments in his career, but this one came with roster security and standing in the NBA after the breakout year in his last season with the Chicago Bulls.

Lucas isn’t one for complacency, so he approached a rough shooting start in his Toronto Raptors' tenure by maintaining confidence and a belief it’ll turn around any given game. After shooting 26 percent from the field over the first month of the season, Lucas is now hitting 44.1 percent from the three-point line, ranking sixth-best in the NBA and a swift rise out of that first month.

“To me, I really didn’t look at it as a struggle, just trying to get comfortable with the new offense, comfortable with the team, and not knowing when I was going to play or if I was going to play,” Lucas told RealGM. “So it was just a matter of me settling myself down mentally and just going out there and playing basketball. Right now it’s been going good.”

For Lucas, the season took an especially good turn after the trade of Jose Calderon. Lucas has averaged 9.9 points while making 30 of 54 three-pointers and stabilizing himself as the Raptors’ backup point guard in the past 15 games since Calderon was dealt.

Lucas gets a chuckle out of the fact he’s the third oldest player on the Raptors at 30, and on the court, he tries to get in his teammates’ ears whenever he can direct them. Performing also helps Lucas’ cause as a leader, and Saturday’s game against the Bucks was indicative of how terrific he’s shot recently – pouring in four three-pointers, three of which in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, toward 16 points for the night.

“We’ve got a lot of leaders on the team and I come in and give advice when I feel like it’s needed, because I have been around,” Lucas said. “I’ve been on winning teams throughout my whole professional career. Just showing the guys what it takes to get to where we’re ultimately trying to get to right now, and that’s the playoffs.

“The mental aspect of coming into every game focused, ready to go. We can’t have no letdowns, can’t have no mental lapses. We always got to make sure that we’re at 100 percent, full force.”

From Tom Thibodeau’s strict system to Dwane Casey’s schemes, Lucas values the styles of both coaches. He’s forever grateful for the way he grew under Thibodeau, receiving his first true platform to exhibit his game, and enjoys the chance now with Casey’s Raptors.

“I’m a basketball player, so I know how to adjust,” Lucas said. “I know how to fit in wherever I need to be and just making it happen wherever I’m at. Thibs gave me the opportunity to showcase my abilities to everybody in the NBA, and it led to me coming here ultimately. I had the opportunity to play. I’ve been on teams where I never really had that opportunity to play the game, so now I have opportunities to play and show everybody what I bring to the table.”

When the Raptors acquired Sebastian Telfair at the trade deadline, some observers believed it was to supplant Lucas as the backup point guard. Lucas has solidified himself as the Raptors’ backup behind Kyle Lowry, though, and in his mind the trade elevates the team’s depth chart – wherever that places him.

“I’m a team player,” Lucas said. “I’m a competitor first, just like everybody else is on the team. But at the end of the day, I go out there and play ball. I don’t worry about stuff that I can’t control. I can only control what I do on the court, and that’s all I focus on.”

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MILWAUKEE – With four Toronto Raptors' personnel surrounding him in the locker room Saturday night, Andrea Bargnani bent his left elbow in a 90-degree angle, showing where his latest ailment persisted. As it turned out, Bargnani was being checked out for simply a deep cut in his elbow, and he then headed to the training room for extensive treatment to prevent infection.

This was a minor injury compared to the torn ligament in Bargnani’s right elbow this season that put him out 26 straight games and off the trade market. For Bargnani now, there’s always something new – from criticism inside and outside the Raptors to continued discussion about his capacity living up to the No. 1 pick Toronto used on him in 2006.

Bargnani has undoubtedly listened to the putdowns, the boos that have showered him in Toronto upon his return to the lineup early last month. Sometimes, his quiet nature gets perceived as dispassionate play, and it leads to a lack of a legitimate leadership role despite being the longest tenured Raptor. His pedestrian rebounding has long been a weakness, too.

Nevertheless, Bargnani is adamant that what’s held him back in playing 11 of the past 12 games hasn’t been lowered confidence or any critic, but rather still recovering from the serious right elbow injury. After some games, he receives treatment in the elbow. On practice or off days, Bargnani works to elevate his conditioning and fitness in the part that’s so critical to his shooting.

“I wasn’t even able to touch the ball for months, had a really bad injury in the elbow,” Bargnani told RealGM late Saturday night. “I just got to keep practicing hard, coming from the injury. I have to try to get back in shape and play hard [because] I didn’t play for two months.

“What I got to do now is practice hard and get back to that shape.”

His “old shape,” Bargnani reiterated, and just last year he established himself as a possible NBA All-Star when he averaged almost 20 points and 5.5 rebounds. Even a year ago, his season was significantly derailed by injury, and he’s been timid at times between then and now.

In the weeks leading up to the Feb. 21 trade deadline, the Raptors and general manager Bryan Colangelo made no secret about the fact they held trade discussions centered on Bargnani. Still, the Raptors felt Bargnani preferred to stay for now instead of a complete scenery change and they never appeared to seriously entertain deals they had on the table.

Support for Bargnani within the organization has been running thin, and Colangelo recently said the Italian forward “needs to strap on his shoes and play basketball.” While some insist Bargnani can still find his way with the Raptors, other officials believe a change of scenery couldn’t hurt him.

Bargnani, for his part, has been noncommittal about the way his mindset swayed at the trade deadline. The Raptors made clear their intent to pursue deals revolving around him, but Bargnani knows he has to get healthy, stay on the court and produce and then allow the front office to evaluate where the two sides stand in the offseason.

“I cannot control trades,” Bargnani said. “All I can do is go out there and play and somebody else’s job is to trade you or [not] in these moments. I just got to focus on the game.

“It’s something you cannot control.”

After scoring a combined 16 points on 7-for-28 shooting over his last five games and going scoreless in three of them, Bargnani was far more aggressive in Saturday’s 122-114 overtime loss to the Bucks. He was shooting without hesitation, posting up with succinct pivots and a plan, and filling in as a starter on short notice due to Gay’s absence because of back spasms.

Yes, he shot just four of 14 on Saturday, but he’s still guarded closely on the perimeter – letting him use pump fakes throughout the game – and gave the Raptors a performance of substance with 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes.

“We talked about getting him going before Rudy went out, and I thought Andrea came in and was aggressive and had his rhythm,” Dwane Casey said. “That’s what we need out of him.”

For long moments Saturday, trainers hovered around Bargnani, fretting all over an elbow injury. This time it was just a deep cut that needed treatment for cleansing. Patience around him has been running thin as three straight seasons of regression go on across the board; scoring to rebounding, shooting percentages to blocking. Yet, Bargnani emerged late Saturday night making it clear: The criticism hasn’t affected him, but overcoming the right elbow injury remains a process. 

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