Dallas Mavericks To Use Amnesty Clause On Brendan Haywood, According To Report

The Dallas Mavericks have collected NBA big men like children of the '90s collected Pogs for many years, but they will apparently be losing one of them. Dallas will use its amnesty clause on Brendan Haywood, according to a report from ESPN Dallas's Tim McMahon.

Haywood was likely made more than a little expendable by the Mavs' signing of Chris Kaman, announced earlier on Wednesday night. Kaman plays Haywood's position -- but Kaman plays it significantly better. The Mavs' use of the amnesty clause will wipe the rest of the six-year, $55 million deal Haywood signed in 2010 off of their salary cap, but Haywood will still be paid the balance of that $55 million.

Haywood came to Dallas in a 2010 trade that featured the Washington Wizards swapping Caron Butler for Josh Howard, but was largely a disappointment for the Mavs. After signing his contract in the summer of 2010, Haywood started just four games in the 2010-11 regular season, averaging just 4.4 points per game. Later, he turned in a couple of good performances in the playoffs, including an eight-rebound, three-block outing against the Lakers and a seven-rebound, three-block night against the Heat. Haywood then inherited the starting center spot from Tyson Chandler, who left Dallas for the open checkbook of the Knicks last summer. He started 54 games for the Mavs this season, scoring in double figures just seven times and recording a double-double twice.