Toronto Raptors to Amnesty Linas Kleiza

Forward Linas Kleiza will be cut loose by the Toronto Raptors via the amnesty clause, reports Yahoo! Sports. A knee injury held the 28-year-old Kleiza to just 20 games last season, averaging 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds: “Kleiza had previously exercised a player option in his Raptors contract to make $4.6 million next season. The Raptors, however, decided Monday to use the amnesty clause on Kleiza, a source said. The move will save Toronto from a luxury-tax hit, although the franchise still has to pay Kleiza’s salary. If no team under the salary cap makes a waiver bid for Kleiza, he will become an unrestricted free agent. Kleiza played for Olympiakos of the Greek League during the 2009-10 season, and a source said his preference is to return to play overseas again.”