In an interview with TMZ.com, Gilbert Arenas revealed that while his amnestied contract would have come to an end next summer, the Magic will continue to pay him through 2016, having agreed to spread out his $111MM salary across two additional years. Arenas’ admission is interesting not only because that type of information isn’t typically reported, but also because paying him an eight-figure salary through 2016 could affect how much Orlando spends elsewhere.
Arenas is one of several amnestied players still being paid through the 2013/14 season, and his arrangement with the Magic shows that we don’t know exactly what agreements were made between teams and players when clubs used their amnesty clauses. For instance, when the Sixers released Elton Brand via amnesty in 2012, he only had one year remaining on his contract, meaning Philadelphia is likely no longer on the hook for his salary. However, if the club agreed to spread out his payments, like the Magic did with Arenas, it’s possible that the Sixers’ debt to Brand hasn’t been entirely extinguished.
What we do know is that many amnestied players had contracts at least through the 2013/14 season, so their former teams are almost certainly still paying their salaries. Here’s a breakdown of the amnestied players, besides Arenas, who are still being paid by old teams this season. The year the player’s amnestied contract ends is noted in parentheses:
- Bobcats: Tyrus Thomas (through 2015)
- Bucks: Drew Gooden (through 2015)
- Heat: Mike Miller (through 2015)
- Lakers: Metta World Peace (through 2014)
- Mavericks: Brendan Haywood (through 2016)
- Nets: Travis Outlaw (through 2015)
- Nuggets: Chris Andersen (through 2014)
- Raptors: Linas Kleiza (through 2014)
- Rockets: Luis Scola (through 2015)
- Suns: Josh Childress (through 2015)
- Timberwolves: Darko Milicic (through 2014)
- Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy (through 2015)
- Wizards: Andray Blatche (through 2015)
The following amnestied players’ contracts have expired, so presumably their teams are no longer paying them, unless they agreed to stretched-out payments like Arenas did:
- 76ers: Elton Brand (expired in 2013)
- Cavaliers: Baron Davis (expired in 2013)
- Clippers: Ryan Gomes (expired in 2013)
- Knicks: Chauncey Billups (expired in 2012)
- Pacers: James Posey (expired in 2012)
- Warriors: Charlie Bell (expired in 2012)
Hoops Rumors’ Amnesty Tracker was used in the creation of this post.