In the end, neither the Cavaliers nor any other NBA team submitted a waiver claim for Mike Miller, who was amnestied by the Heat two days ago.
Marc Stein of ESPN:
Mike Miller, I'm told, has cleared waivers and is a free agent
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 18, 2013
I fail to understand why teams aren’t more aggressive with bidding on amnestied players. Miller, who has battled injury, has played just 59, 39 (of 66), 41 and 54 games the last four seasons, so you can’t count on him. But to get him for two years on a minimum contract? I think the reward outweighs the risk.
Anyway, the teams with cap room – the only teams permitted to bid on him – disagreed, and now Miller is an unrestricted free agent (though he can’t sign with Miami).
Brian Windhorst of ESPN:
Mike Miller cleared amnesty waivers & is a free agent. Spurs, Thunder, Grizzlies & Rockets among teams with interest in signing him.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 18, 2013
Miller’s shooting makes him a good fit with any of those contending teams, none of whom had cap room and, therefore, the ability to bid on Miller. I’d be particularly intrigued by Miller returning to Memphis, where he played from 2003-08. With Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, shooting is a premium there, and though Tayshaun Prince is a better defender than Miller, Miller would prove an element Prince lacks.