MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – Miami Heat forward Mike Miller has been the most likely candidate for amnesty under the collective bargaining agreement. Thursday, more fuel was added to the fire of jettisoning Miller.

According to Heat power forward Udonis Haslem, Miller underwent hernia surgery and will likely be out roughly eight weeks.

Miller said that he wasn't sure when the injury happened, but that he had the surgery on Tuesday. It was his fourth surgery in the last year.

"Just bad luck," Miller told the Palm Beach Post. "It's difficult. I was finally getting healthy, and I was excited about camp."

Miller wouldn't be available for the Heat until late January, assuming his recovery stays on track.

If Miller is out for a significant period of time, it makes little sense for the Heat to continue to pay the injury-prone player $5.4 million this season.

Miller is signed through 2013-2014 and will make $5.8 million next year and $6.2 million in 2013.

Based on the rules of the new collective bargaining agreement, the Heat can amnesty a player at any time during the term of the CBA and have that player's salary completely removed from the team's payroll as it relates to the salary cap.

So, Miami can waive Miller and have his $5.4 million in salary. They could also possibly have the full mid-level exception contract to play with for this season.

That would give Miami Heat president Pat Riley plenty of room to maneuver to land a desperately needed big man, and add a swingman to replace Miller's shooting.

It's still too early to figure out which way Riley will go with this move, but at this point, getting rid of Miller is likely the smartest move for Riley and the Heat.