Miami Heat Officially Amnesty Two-Time NBA Champion Mike Miller, What’s Next?

By: Brett Lerner

The HEAT announced today they have exercised the amnesty clause on SF Mike Miller, which allows the remainder of his contract to come off the books with no penalty. According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, the team tried to trade Miller for the past several days, but could not find a suitable trade partner to complete an attractive deal for both sides.

Despite Pat Riley saying recently that he felt using the clause on Miller, or any other player on the roster was “unnecessary” but was ultimately leaving the decision up to owner Micky Arison, as he would be the one to pay the price if they had decided to keep Miller, literally.

To keep it simple, the NBA sets a salary cap to tell each team how much they can spend to fill out their 15 man roster and while a team can go over this cap, they must then pay what is called a “luxury tax” to the NBA at the end of the league year. Under the new CBA, however, every year a team owes luxury tax, the amount increases exponentially as a penalty of sorts for overspending, a clause Pat Riley has been vocally against.

Micky Arison was facing a $33 Million luxury tax bill and waiving Miller saves him $17 Million next season and potentially $40 Million over the next two. What comes with this move and why make it? Short term, if Miller wants to return to the HEAT, though unlikely, he is ineligible to do so until after the 2014-15 season.

This prevents teams from using amnesty to do the NBA equivalent of restructuring contracts as teams do in the NFL. It also means the HEAT cannot amnesty anyone else for the rest of the current CBA in effect. Also, this could open the door to signing a player like Greg Oden, if he was previously unhappy with the money the team was offering him.

The loss of Miller will also open the door for James Jones to step up and take over Miller’s spot. Long term though, this definitely increases the chances that Arison will take later tax hits to keep the Big Three together beyond next season because he is avoiding having to pay tax on Miller.

It also creates more space to sign more impact role players to convince the Big Three to stay next offseason. There are a number of reactions from within the HEAT organization and Miller himself. Pat Riley calls the decision “very difficult” to amnesty Miller. Miller to AP: “I understand. … Very, very thankful for the opportunity that I’ve had, but it hurts.” Dwyane Wade to AP, reacting to Miller amnesty: “It’s tough to lose one of our brothers. But I think weall understand it’s not personal.”

Thanks to Tim Reynolds of the AP for the reactions.Crank Up The HEAT would like to take this opportunity to thank Mike Miller for a great three years in Miami. He left great memories,from the hobbling body of his coming out of nowhere to help seal the 2012 title during Game 5 of the Finals vs OKC, the 32-point game vs Toronto, the three made with one shoe in the 2013 Finals, and of course, being a huge part of helping Miami hoist two Larry O’Brien trophies. Thank you, Mike, and always “Let It Fly!”