The Kings did not use the amnesty waiver clause before Tuesday's deadline, surprising no one given that the Kings claimed they had no intention of using it. The amnesty clause will now be available for the Kings during the July 2013 window. The Kings cannot use the clause until next offseason. While you can always waive a player midseason and either eat his remaning salary cap hit, or work out a buy-out agreement to reduce the salary cap hit, a team cannot employ the amnesty clause outside of the window.

Because the clause can only be used on players under contract with the team before the 2011 lockout, the only King truly eligible for the amnesty clause in 2013 will be John Salmons. The Kings traded for Salmons during the 2011 draft, just days before the lockout began. Chuck Hayes and Marcus Thornton were signed after the lockout in December 2011.

Francisco Garcia has been considered the Kings' other amnesty option, but he has only a team option for the 2013-14 season. If the Kings want to drop the $6.4 million due to El Flaco in 2013-14, they would simply decline his team option in June 2013. Salmons is due $7.5 million guaranteed in 2013-14, and $1 million in 2014-15. By using the amnesty clause, the Kings would commit to paying Salmons that final $8.5 million but would see the full salary removed from the salary cap sheet. Keep this in mind when we talk about the team's cap outlook later today.