Mike Miller becomes free agent after clearing amnesty waivers
The Oklahoma City Thunder are frontrunners to sign former Miami Heat swingman Mike Miller after he became a free agent on Thursday, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Miller became a free agent after no team placed a bid on him during the amnesty waiver process.
The Memphis Grizzlies also have strong interest. Miller's other possible suitors include the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. He is free to sign with any team but the Heat.
Miller was waived by the Heat earlier this week using the team's amnesty clause. No team under the salary cap placed a bid on him in the NBA's amnesty waiver process, making him a free agent.
The deadline for playing a bid on Miller was 5 p.m. ET Thursday.
Miller, 33, has considered having fusion surgery to repair bulging disks in his back. Back problems caused him to miss games during the 2011-12 season. He also considered surgery in the summer of 2012.
Miami used the amnesty provision to free itself of the $12.8 million left on Miller's contract over the next two seasons. The decision will save the Heat significant money in luxury-tax payments, but the organization is still responsible for paying the balance of Miller's contract.
Miller played a significant role in the Heat's back-to-back NBA championships and run to three straight Finals appearances.
Miller, 33, has played 12 NBA seasons, including stops with Orlando, Memphis, Minnesota, Washington and Miami. Despite several pivotal performances for Miami in key playoff and Finals games over the past two years, injuries often kept him out of the lineup, or playing hurt.
Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
• Dwight Howard is mocked at ESPYs
• Charlotte on verge of reclaiming Hornets name
• Mark Cuban says Mavs better off without Dwight Howard
