Ample Amnesties

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Carlos Boozer, among others, could be amnestied this offseason.

How many dumb things have we done that made us wish we had a “get-out-of-jail-free card”?

It’s fairly simple. You make a mistake, and you simply have it erased (snaps fingers) — just like that.

Isn’t that essentially what the amnesty rule is in the NBA? A free escape from a bad contract?

Okay, maybe I’m being a little bit unfair. Some bad contacts handed out by general managers aren’t bad contracts when they’re signed. When Pat Riley brought Chris Bosh to Miami, it was a no-brainer. A max deal for a star power forward on the verge of being the next Kevin Garnett? Sorry Toronto.

Whether or not we want to kick back in hindsight and beg the question: why do Bosh and LeBron James make the same amount? Well, that’s irrelevant.

The truth is contracts are signed on potential. When the potential isn’t fulfilled, and general managers plant their faces in their palms, wishing for a reset button — they’re given one.

Orlando Magic fans never understood why Gilbert Arenas was brought to the team. In that sense, I’m in favor of amnestying a player. Don’t hold the entire Magic franchise at fault for the mistakes of Otis Smith.

But regardless of my irrational feelings toward the amnesty rule, there are 10 teams who have yet to cash in on that get-out-of-jail-free card. In order to qualify for it, the contract has to be signed before July 1, 2011. Though I would like to bring to light that amnestying a player with trade value isn’t exactly smart. The amnesty is supposed to give you and out for a bad contract nobody wants to take on.

Let’s look at the candidates, shall we?

Atlanta Hawks

Al Horford is the amnesty-eligible player for the Hawks. He’s making $12 million a year through the 2015-16 season. The only way I can see Danny Ferry cutting Horford lose is if they believe his injuries are so chronic they’ve depleted his trade value. I highly doubt that’s the case because other than this season and the 2011-12 season, Horford’s been fairly durable. Last year he averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds in the 74 games he started. Horford is only 27. If Atlanta is projecting him to leave in free agency, they’ll look to trade him. He’s been the most consistent part of their franchise, and I believe they’ll attempt to lock him up.

Boston Celtics

Boston’s eligible bachelor would be the “infamous” Rajon Rondo. He’s due $13 million next year — the final year of his contract. I honestly think Rondo is less likely to get amnestied than Horford. When Boston hired Brad Stevens, it was made clear Rondo was the future. They still haven’t come to terms on a contract extension, so I’m led to believe he wants to test out some other colors besides green. If so, Boston needs to trade him. An amnesty would let them off the hook for his contract, but Rondo is still valuable. The Celtics need to get as much for him as they can before he leaves them high and dry.

Chicago Bulls

Chicago actually has two lucky Bulls eligible to be amnestied: Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. Let’s take a permanent marker and draw a thick, powerful line through Noah’s name. He’s the defensive player of the year. He’s not leaving the Windy City. Boozer, on the other hand, is my most likely to be amnestied. He’s due $16.8 million next year. By cutting ties with Boozer, and possibly dealing someone like Mike Dunleavy, Chicago could afford to throw the big bucks at Carmelo Anthony or Chris Bosh this offseason. I think it’s safe to say, especially with an early playoff exit, Boozer is probably gone.

Detroit Pistons

Greg Monroe has been one of the players I’m most intrigued to see hit free agency. The Josh Smith signing kind of put Monroe out in the rain. With no one willing to take on Smith’s contract, Monroe will most likely be dealt — if Detroit is smart. Again, the amnesty isn’t really valuable for a player who generates a lot of trade buzz. I don’t see the Pistons letting Monroe go without taking some draft picks back.

Memphis Grizzlies

Mike Conley and Zach Randolph are both possible amnesty options. Though I can’t see Conley taking that role considering the NBA is a point guard-driven league. Conley is signed through the 2015-16 season, and his annual base salary won’t even crack $10 million. Meanwhile, back in the hall of bad contracts, Randolph is licking his chops for the $16.5 million he’s owed next season. The Grizzlies would be more inclined to amnesty Randolph and make a run at a big-time free agent. Which one? That’s neither here nor there, but if they believe they can land a big name, they’ll nix Randolph’s dollars.

New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans don’t even have an amnesty-eligible player. I’m sorry to disappoint, but there’s no way the Pelicans can make a contract vanish into thin air. So New Orleans is pretty much stuck with Ryan Anderson’s $8.5 million a year deal. And Eric Gordon is another case of “deal him before you get nothing.”

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder found themselves in a sticky situation a couple years ago, and it ended up with them sending James Harden to the Houston Rockets. Harden became a superstar over night. The reason OKC had to ship out Harden? Kendrick Perkins. He’s owed more than $9 million next season. To be fair, OKC had to write blank checks to Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. Durant is also eligible to be amnestied — less likely than a Donald Sterling-Magic Johnson charity golf tournament. Nick Collison is on the list too, but he’s making $2.2 million and is more consistent. I think it’s pretty likely Perkins is amnestied, especially if OKC feels it can add a center in the offseason.

Sacramento Kings

Again, sorry to burst your bubble, Kings fans. Your team doesn’t have a bad contract issued before the deadline. So… yeah, you’re pretty much stuck where you are financially.

San Antonio Spurs

Tony Parker. Yes, Tony Parker. He’s the only eligible candidate for the Spurs. He’s owed $12.5 million next year — the last year on his deal. But with Tim Duncan about to retire in the near future, Parker will finally have the team to himself. I don’t think there’s a Spurs fan alive who believes Parker won’t retire in black and silver. He’s a former NBA Finals MVP. He’s been a candidate for the league MVP. He’s not getting amnestied. The end.

Utah Jazz

And of course, the Jazz join the exclusive club of teams without an amnesty-eligible player. We’ll see you in the draft, Utah (raises glass).

I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but I think the idea of an amnesty is good on paper. However, I don’t see too many scenarios in which it’s useful. Most of the candidates are either too valuable not to be traded or too valuable to be shipped off in the first place.

Part of me wishes the amnesty could be amnestied. Chalk one up to ironic puns.]]>