Now that the 2011-2012 NBA season is able to get going, there is now the small matter of free agency that still needs to be resolved. Much like the NFL free agency period following their lockout, the NBA will have a truncated offseason that is expected to get started approximately December 9. With plans to start the season by Christmas, we are looking at most free agency signings happening within a matter of a week or two at most.
The Golden State Warriors have one restricted free agent and three unrestricted free agents:
Restricted: SF Reggie Williams
Unrestricted: PG Acie Law, SF Al Thornton, SF Vladimir Radmanovic
Of the four free agents, Reggie Williams had the biggest impact, which makes his restricted free agency all the better. Williams is entering his third year and looking to rebound from struggles in 2010-11. Although Williams made appearances in 80 games, he started one less game than his rookie year, and saw his averages go down across the board.
The big question Warriors fans are more curious about is the issue of the new Amnesty Clause. The clause is defined as follows:
14. Amnesty
- Each team permitted to waive 1 player prior to any season of the CBA(only for contracts in place at the inception of the CBA) and have 100% ofthe player's salary removed from team salary for Cap and Tax purposes.
- Salary of amnestied players included for purposes of calculating players'agreed-upon share of BRI.
- A modified waiver process will be utilized for players waived pursuant tothe Amnesty rule, under which teams with Room under the Cap cansubmit competing offers to assume some but not all of the player's remaining contract. If a player's contract is claimed in this manner, theremaining portion of the player's salary will continue to be paid by theteam that waived him.
The clause can only be applied once, but it does not have to happen this year. The big names on the Warriors roster include Andris Biedrins and David Lee. It sounds like Lee is a favorite of ownership and thus unlikely to be "Amnestied." Most Warriors fans want Biedrins gone yesterday, but even that is no guarantee. Of course, if the Warriors want to make a run out a big man, they probably need to bite the bullet on one of these contracts.
For more on the Warriors, check out Golden State Of Mind.