The world didn’t end for the Cleveland Cavaliers after all.

Many people thought it would after LeBron James, the best player of his generation, signed with the Miami Heat in 2010. The narrative in Cleveland, at least much of it, revolved around what wouldn’t happen now that the franchise’s best player left for greener pastures. Things, however, seem to be turning around fairly quickly.

For the second time in three years, the Cavaliers won the NBA Draft Lottery. It can and will be said that celebrating the reward of bad seasons isn’t a good thing. Celebrating the possibilities of a bright future is, however, cause for a few cheers. Their future is no longer defined by James’ decision. They’re in complete control of where they go and how fast they get there. The top pick is a part of the process, but not the only asset they possess.

Kyrie Irving, one of the NBA's most talented young stars, leads a talented group that many believe will be enough to start a dialogue that could eventually lead to the team reacquiring James. At this point a return of James is purely speculation and wishful thinking. Irving, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson, however, are real and their talent is enough to lead the franchise back to the playoffs. Their picks in the upcoming draft (they also own No. 19) can only help with the task.

“We were hoping, regardless of what pick we got, that this would be our last lottery,” Dan Gilbert said. “We thought originally after everything had to be reset that it would be a three-year process. You never know. It could be two or it could be four, but we thought three years. With the number one pick this year, and we also have number 19, we think this will be the last lottery for a while here.”

The luck of the lottery, combined with the team’s young talent has made the ending with James easier to move on from. These days, the disappointment of that situation is a memory more than a motivating factor for Cleveland.

“To us, that is so long ago,” Gilbert said. “It’s only three years, but in NBA years, which are like dog years, it seems like it was 15 or 20 years ago. We’ve just been so focused on building a team over the past few years. We can’t look back. There’s nothing we can do, and we’re just happy about today.”

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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)

NBA fans in Seattle feel very angry and disappointed following the NBA Board of Governors’ vote to keep the Kings in Sacramento, and rightfully so. Only a few months ago the Sacramento Kings moving to Seattle looked like a foregone conclusion. I have written on the Seattle-Sacramento-Kings situation a few times before (here and here), with the Cliffs Notes version reading that the only sensible solution is one where both Seattle and Sacramento have teams.

On May 15, 2013, the NBA Board of Governors voted by a 22-8 count to deny Chris Hansen’s bid to relocate the Kings’ to Seattle (while not voting on the proposed sale). While the Kings have since been sold to Vivek Ranadive’s group and will remain in Sacramento, and the story has been rehashed all over the web, the purpose of this article is to look forward, not backward. Before we do that, however, here’s some of what we’ve learned from the Kings situation:

- David Stern still harbors a grudge against Seattle.

- The NBA’s new edict to keep teams from relocating at all costs (conveniently instituted immediately after the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City) means relocation of another team to Seattle does not appear to be realistic anytime soon.

With all this being said, Sonics' fans should have hope, as many significant steps were laid for the return of the NBA to Seattle, which will occur sooner rather than later. Why the optimistic view? Here’s why:

1. The League Was Reminded that Seattle is a Fantastic NBA Market. The old adage out-of-sight, out-of-mind is based in truth. Well, Chris Hansen, Steve Ballmer and the rest of the Seattle ownership group importantly reminded the NBA that the Seattle market is simply too good to be left vacant. Five years have passed since the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City, and naturally with some time having passed, a Sonics-less NBA had been becoming more and more engrained in the NBA world. However, over the past few months, Seattle has forced its way onto the NBA radar in a big way. While the Kings will ultimately not move there, the talk of the Kings moving to Seattle for the past several months did serve a meaningful purpose in reminding the NBA loud and clear that Seattle needs to have its Sonics returned.

2. The Seattle Ownership Group & Arena Plan are Absurdly Strong. Let’s see, Steve Ballmer’s net worth exceeds $15 billion dollars.  That’s $15 BILLION DOLLARS! You think the NBA wants someone with such wealth and stature in the league? Me too. As for the arena, the design looks to be state-of-the-art, and upon obtaining an NBA team, not much remains as a roadblock to having the arena built. When viewing the proposed ownership group and arena plan together, very few existing NBA teams can match what Seattle has in place.

3. $$$$$. While the potential bidding war for the Kings didn’t quite happen because David Stern said so, the league owners were made well aware that the Hansen/Ballmer group would be willing to pay a pretty penny for a team. So hello expansion! Let’s assume a price tag of $600 million dollars for an expansion team - this would mean $20 million per owner. Yes, the owners would have to carve out another piece of the revenue pie to a new 31st team, but if you run the numbers (even accounting for the next TV deal increasing substantially), the $20 million up-front payment to each team should make this enticing to the owners, enough to allow the Hansen/Ballmer group into the exclusive club.

4. David Stern’s Remaining Tenure Can Be Measured In Months. No matter whom you ask, the response will be the same – David Stern is not a friend of the NBA’s return to Seattle. If you need any proof, listen to the first sentence out of David Stern’s mouth at the press conference following the relocation vote. But, from what we have seen so far from Adam Silver, his replacement in waiting, the new commissioner does not share the same icy relationship with Seattle. Further, Silver’s comments at the same press conference indicate an appreciation for the Seattle market and a genuine desire to get the NBA back to Seattle. It should be expected that Silver will look to carve out his own path as commissioner, rather than serve as Stern’s lackey. We won’t know for certain until Silver takes the helm, but all evidence points to Silver having a net positive impact on the NBA’s return to Seattle. Too bad the same thing can’t be said for David Stern.

So Seattle NBA fans, there are legitimate reasons to have hope. But, patience will be required. With all of this in mind, what exactly needs to happen in the meantime? Let’s break this into two groups:

Chris Hansen/Steve Ballmer:

The Seattle ownership group needs to focus on two key tasks. First, the group needs to maintain close contact with the league office, and most specifically, Adam Silver. The league is in the process of opening up negotiations with the TV networks for the next TV contract, and it’s not unreasonable to think that the new TV deal will be agreed within the next year or so. The NBA has stated on multiple occasions that it will take a close look at expansion once negotiations for the next TV deal are completed (not when the existing TV deal expires in 2016), so it may be as soon as one year before the league looks at expansion.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, the ownership group needs to continue dialogue with the other NBA owners. This is critical because it’s the owners that ultimately say yay or nay on expansion. Remember that the vote against the Seattle relocation was 22-8, not 30-0. If you disregard the Maloofs’ vote (they had a vote in the relocation), then you still have seven owners who were in favor of the move to Seattle. This is a very important piece of information to consider, as it means that the Hansen/Ballmer group has allies among the owners. Hansen/Ballmer need to continue to lobby these owners to help them with expansion. In addition, there are strong rumblings that a handful of other owners were in favor of the move, but were ultimately convinced to vote against the move by Stern. So within the BOG, there are owners who support Seattle, and the Hansen/Ballmer group needs to get them on board with expansion. If Hansen/Ballmer can get the BOG on board, expansion will happen, and thus, Hansen/Ballmer need to focus on gaining league-wide support from the owners for expansion.

Sonics Fans:

For the fans, the tasks at hand require less explanation. First, easier said than done, keep up the support. Admittedly, it’s hard based on what has transpired, but don’t give up the faith. The Sonics’ return is close to happening, believe it. And once the NBA does return, all of the sweat and emotion put into this cause will have been worthwhile. Second, Sonics fans need to do their part to keep the political climate in Seattle favorable to the NBA’s return and the new arena. For a starting point, there is an upcoming mayoral election, and Sonics fans need to galvanize the Seattle voters to keep an NBA friendly mayor at the helm of the city.

For a moment, I’m going to take off my journalist hat and put on my Sonics hat. Sonics fans, I’m one of you. I grew up with the team, and their run in the 1990’s was one of my most memorable sports experiences to date. Together we need to continue to fight for the Sonics’ return. We need to provide our support to the Hansen/Ballmer group. They’re in it for the long haul, and we fans need to be as well. Brian Robinson and company, keep up the great work at Sonics Rising. I encourage all NBA fans, not just Sonics fans, to take a look at the Sonics Rising page at SB Nation. As you will see, Seattle’s passion for the Sonics is very real. Quite frankly, the level of support is remarkable based on how the NBA has treated Seattle these past five years. I know the Kings process was disturbing on many fronts, and I’m not a fan of moral victories, but in this case, quite a bit was done in terms of furthering the return of the NBA to Seattle. I have no inside knowledge on this, but I do believe that the Sonics will be playing again in Seattle within the next five years, and that an expansion team will be announced within the next 2-3 years. We’re very close - just hang in there a bit longer, and we will be rewarded. And if/when you feel like giving up, think about the younger generation growing up in Seattle. They deserve the chance to grow up with the Sonics just as we did, and our perseverance will be worth it once our team finally returns.

Alright, to wrap up, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the Sonics return, despite what transpired with the Kings. Look forward, not back, and hang in there. The plan is very simple: at the next BOG meeting, Chris Hansen will march into the room and put a $20 million check on each owner’s chair, and that will be that.  j/k  But in all seriousness, it’s a matter of when, not if, for the Sonics’ return, and it will be oh so sweet once they do.  I’d love to hear from you if you have any comments. I can be reached by email at nhodjat@gmail.com and you can follow me on Twitter at @NeemaHodjat.