Amnesty May Cost Mike Miller His Job
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – As NBA owners and players continue to fight over a new collective bargaining agreement; the amnesty clause expected to be included in the new deal may claim a victim from the Miami Heat.
Forward Mike Miller signed a contract last season that made him the third highest paid player on the team. But, he struggled mightily with injuries all season long and was a major bust for the Heat.
The amnesty clause will allow teams to select one player, typically a player with an over-priced contract, and allow the team to release them without it causing salary cap problems.
The player will still get paid, but the team won't suffer any long-term salary cap issues.
The rule will be instituted so teams can get rid of players like Gilbert Arenas, who is due close to $60 million over the next three years, but whose play has declined significantly.
It was also the result of owners over-paying players and wanting to be protected from themselves.
For Miller, he's due around $17 million over the next three seasons and will count $5.4 million against the salary cap this season.
The Heat could use the amnesty clause on Miller and clear his high-priced fees off the books.
The team could then use the money that it saves from the deal to target another player, such as Shane Battier.
According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Miller is very aware of this possibility.
Miller has reportedly put his $9 million home up for sale, the Sun-Sentinel reported. He's still recovering from surgery and his 2010-2011 campaign for the Heat could be his only year with the team.
