This next few weeks will bring a couple of different kind of free agency periods. The one we expected with players whose contracts have run out, and the new crop of players still under contract for the moment, but who won’t be once teams use their amnesty clause.
A lot of us have already been pouring over the free agent lists for months wondering who our teams might target. But this amnesty thing has been a guessing game. And because a bunch of these guys are guys who can still play, just not well enough to live up to their currently astronomical deals, people have really been getting into it.
A sampling of these type of players that would definitely draw interest all play for the same team: the Detroit Pistons. But if you think Richard Hamilton, Ben Gordon, or Charlie Villanueva could be a good fit at the right price for your team, keep shopping.
The Detroit Pistons won’t use the NBA’s amnesty clause to waive one of their high-priced players before the season, a person with knowledge of the situation said today.
The person requested anonymity because teams aren’t allowed to discuss the league’s amnesty clause. The move is not surprising, despite three players on the roster considered to be candidates for the new provision.
It’s not entirely surprising becasue the Pistons gain nothing at the moment from cutting any of these guys. They’re under the cap ($48 million payroll this season) and they’re going to be terrible (200-1 odds at winning a title according to one Las Vegas sports book). The thinking here is why pay someone to go away when you’re going to suck anyway?
The Pistons might as well get what they can out of Richard Hamilton and see if his expiring contract comes in handy next off-season as part of a sign-and-trade for someone good. Then they can use the amnesty clause on Ben Gordon next season and get way under the cap (Gordon will make $12.4 million next season, Pistons payroll next season is $41 million) to make a run at a big time free agent. And even after both those things happen, the Pistons will be in a spot to still have money to sign other role players.
So believe it or not, the Pistons are smartly setting themselves up by not using the amnesty clause just yet. They are set up quite nicely to make a splash in the future. That just means your pipe dreams of taking a flier on Gordon, Rip Hamilton or Villanueva for almost no money will have to wait. They’ll be a big part of the action next summer, but they won’t be part of this month’s frenzy.
