I looked it up to see how many teams used the amnesty last time around (2005). The articles I read stated that 18 teams who took advantage of the amnesty situation.
Although, a bunch of those player had already left their clubs (been bought out previously with their contracts still hanging on the club's cap). Vin Baker and the Celtics or Alonzo and Toronto for example. There was also Reggie Miller who had already retired.
So 11 teams out of 30 really. In terms of active players being waived. About a third of the league.
New York opted instead to release forward Jerome Williams to avoid $21.3 million in luxury taxes that would have been due over the next three seasons.
Dallas worked into the night trying to find a trade for Michael Finley, who is owed $51.8 million over the next three seasons. But the Mavericks ended up releasing the 10-year veteran instead.
In all, teams saved more than $212 million in future tax payments by waiving 18 players. Among those let go Monday were Fred Hoiberg of Minnesota, Ron Mercer of New Jersey, Calvin Booth of Milwaukee, Troy Bell of Memphis and Clarence Weatherspoon of Houston.
Several teams made moves to clear tax obligations for players who left their rosters long ago. They included Alonzo Mourning (Toronto), Vin Baker (Boston), Derrick Coleman (Detroit), Wesley Person (Miami), Eddie Robinson (Chicago) and Howard Eisley (Phoenix).
Players previously released under the amnesty program included Doug Christie (Orlando), Aaron McKie (Philadelphia), Brian Grant (Los Angeles Lakers) and Derek Anderson (Portland).
Teams whose payrolls exceed $61.7 million for the upcoming season will have to pay a dollar-for-dollar tax on the overage. Among them are the Indiana Pacers, who waived retired guard Reggie Miller to save $6 million in luxury tax costs.
Link
There was a key difference there, though, in that amnesty only applied to luxury tax, and didn't give any cap space.
Also, the other key difference could be that teams get two years to decide whether to use their amnesty or not:
Sources say that there’s a determined push led by San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt to allow teams to have at least two years to decide whether or not to amnesty one player, with multiple sources telling ESPN.com this week that they believe the concept — with restrictions that are still being haggled over — has indeed won sufficient support to be included in the new labor deal.
Six years ago, teams had only two weeks to decide whether to use the amnesty clause or lose it forever. Now? There is a growing likelihood that teams will be able to “save” their amnesty clause through next season, or perhaps beyond.
That could end up being a big deal. Some teams will want to wait to see whether injured stars (say, Brandon Roy, or Greg Oden if the Blazers sign him to an extension) recover before cutting them.
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/28/report-teams-may-have-two-years-to-use-amnesty-clause?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitterLastly, the article above notes that it's probable that the waiver would only account for 75% of a player's cap figure, rather than the entire salary.
