Where Are They Now?: Amnestied Players

Elton Brand and the Sixers pulled off an unusual kind of reunion today, as Brand signed with the team that waived him via the amnesty clause in 2012. Few teams revisit the players they essentially admitted they made a mistake in signing, and on top of that, teams are barred from re-signing the players they amnesty until their amnestied contracts expire.

Brand only had one year left on his deal when the Sixers released him, so his return to Philadelphia has theoretically been possible since 2013. Still, it would have been hard to envision such a move from Sixers GM Sam Hinkie, who took control of the team shortly before Brand became eligible to re-sign with the team, at least until chairman of basketball operations Jerry Colangelo came aboard in December.

However, this isn’t the only example of an amnestied player rejoining the team that let him go. The Lakers and Metta World Peace hooked up on a non-guaranteed deal in the offseason, though their renewed relationship is liable to end this week, with Thursday looming as the final day for the Lakers to waive him before his full salary becomes guaranteed.

Four other players amnestied after the provision was reintroduced in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement are still in the NBA, though they’re on different teams than the ones that amnestied them. Oddly, Mike Miller, whom the Heat amnestied, is playing with the Nuggets, while Chris Andersen, whom the Nuggets amnestied, is with the Heat. Here’s a look at the whereabouts of each player amnestied since 2011. Note that this doesn’t include those amnestied during the 2005 window:

76ers: Elton Brand (2012) — Re-signed with Sixers today.
Bulls: Carlos Boozer (2014) — Free agent; reportedly met with Bucks recently.
Bucks: Drew Gooden (2013) — Playing with Wizards.
Cavaliers: Baron Davis (2011) — Free agent
Celtics: Unused
Clippers: Ryan Gomes (2012) — Free agent
Grizzlies: Unused
Hawks: Unused
Heat: Mike Miller (2013) — Playing with Nuggets.
Hornets:  Tyrus Thomas (2013) — Playing in Germany with Eisbären Bremerhaven.
Jazz: Unused
Kings:Unused
Knicks: Chauncey Billups — Retired
Lakers: Metta World Peace (2013) — Playing with Lakers again on non-guaranteed deal.
Magic: Gilbert Arenas (2011) — Free agent
Mavericks: Brendan Haywood (2012) — Free agent
Nets: Travis Outlaw (2011) — Free agent
Nuggets: Chris Andersen (2012) — Playing with Heat.
Pacers: James Posey (2011) — Retired; assistant coach for Cavaliers.
Pelicans: Unused
Pistons: Unused
Raptors: Linas Kleiza (2013) — Free agent
Rockets: Luis Scola (2012) — Playing with Raptors.
Spurs: Unused
Suns: Josh Childress (2012) — Playing in Australia with the Sydney Kings.
Thunder: Unused
Timberwolves: Darko Milicic (2012) — Retired
Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy (2011) — Free agent
Warriors: Charlie Bell (2011) — Free agent
Wizards: Andray Blatche (2012) — Playing in China for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.