Why didn't we Amnesty Lewis?

When the NBA lockout ended this past summer, we were told that there was a new rule of amnesty for NBA contracts.  In short, each NBA team is allowed to use an “Amnesty Clause” to release one player from their roster within the next 10 years (the length of the current CBA).  Once the clause has been used it cannot be used again, within those 10 years.  Though the player is released, they are still fully compensated for the contract; however, that player’s salary will not count against that team’s salary cap.

     When us Wizards fans heard of this rule we all assumed that the Wizards would exercise this option on Rashard Lewis.  Lewis the second highest paid player (making $22.15 million this season) in the league for the current 2011-2012 season finished last season averaging 11.7 points a game and this season is averaging 8.5 this season and leaving a lot of fans asking; “Why didn’t we amnesty Lewis?”.  Lewis, whose production has been rapidly decreasing the last 3 years and is owed another $23.7 million in the final year of his contract next season (the 2012-2013 season), seems to be the perfect candidate. 

WHAT ARE WE MISSING?  I’ll tell you what, there’s hope!  Lewis has a $10 million dollar buyout next season.  Meaning the Wizards could save near $14 million by buying Lewis out as opposed to amnesty him.  This leaves the wizards with the option of using the clause for another player in the future.  So actually not pulling the trigger on Lewis seems like the good move and hopefully they’ll find the right player to amnesty and won’t Blatche….I mean botch it.