The amnesty clause is a provision in the league's new collective bargaining agreement that allows each team a one-time opportunity to waive a player whose contract was signed prior to July 1, 2011. Any team that exercises that clause must still pay the player his full salary, but that contract would no longer count against the team's salary cap or potential tax payment.

Perkins will earn roughly $18.6 million over the next two seasons, a salary that at this point surpasses his production. Perkins averaged 2.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.5 blocks while playing 19.1 minutes in the Thunder's 11 postseason games. They were his lowest playoff averages since his postseason debut in his second season, a year in which Perkins' statistics were only marginally worse despite averaging just 4.7 minutes.

“He's somewhat of an easy target because of his stats,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. “He's never going to be a statistical guy. He brings toughness. He brings experience. He brings things that help you win. He makes winning basketball plays. Did he have good moments in the playoffs? He had some. He had some not so good. What he does with our team, he helps us win games. When we had everybody whole, he was a big part of what we do. Going forward, I expect that to be the same.”

When starting point guard Russell Westbrook sustained a season-ending knee injury, nearly every Thunder player's production eventually dipped. Perkins looked the worst. He ended the playoff run with as many turnovers (24) as points. By the end of the Thunder's second-round series against Memphis, Perkins had compiled the worst plus-minus of anyone. He finished a minus-40, meaning the Grizzlies outscored the Thunder by 40 points when Perkins was on the floor.