Heat Amnesty Mike Miller
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – As recently as a few weeks ago, Miami Heat president Pat Riley said he wasn't planning on amnestying any player on the roster.
Apparently, plans changed as the Heat announced Tuesday that they have waived Miller using the one-time amnesty provision in the collective bargaining agreement.
The amnesty clause allows the Heat to remove Miller's salary from the books for salary cap and luxury tax purposes. The Heat will still owe Miller his full $12.8 million, but the team can avoid paying a hefty luxury tax for the 2013-2014 season.
By using the amnesty provision on Miller, the Heat will save approximately $17 million in luxury taxes. The Heat was on the hook for upwards of $33 million before the team chose to amnesty Miller for the coming season.
According to multiple reports, the team was actively trying to trade Miller right up until the point the team announced the amnesty move. Miller told the AP's Tim Reynolds, "I understand…Very, very thankful for the opportunity that I've had, but it hurts."
Heat star Dwyane Wade told the AP, "It's tough to lose one of our brothers. But I think we all understand it's not personal."
Miller was brought in with the Big Three to help space the floor with his three point shooting. He battled injuries during his time in Miami, but he also came up big when it counted the most in the 2012 and 2013 NBA Finals.
Miller's most memorable moments in Miami were his seven three-pointers in the series clinching 2012 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and in this year's NBA Finals, making a three-point shot after losing a shoe.
Miller played in 59 games for the Heat in the 2012-2013 season and started 17.
