TP for posting the article.
Some of us have been screaming about the potential luxury tax implications that loom on the horizon. I wish I had the time and patience to gain more knowledge in this area, but it is great that this particular article goes into specifics about just how horrific the tax bill could be in the future. I particularly liked this snippet:
This spiraling tax problem is why I don’t believe the franchise can reasonably add Hayward and Butler or George. The assets are still there to put together a trade package, but a team with an extended Thomas, Hayward, Horford, and (let’s just pick) Jimmy Butler would have you near the luxury tax for just those four players in 2019-20. The following season you could remove Al Horford but you need to replace him and fill out ten other roster spots, at least.
It would be wonderful to put together a team of IT/Horford/Hayward/George, but unlike the superstar rosters of Cle and GS, all of these guys would be on new max scale contracts. That is why in a couple of years there will be parity once again in the NBA when all of the players on GS and CLE will need to be PAID.
Many people think that ownership will be willing to go into the luxury tax to field a contender, which is absolutely true. I just don't think they realize that # could reach $165M above the 2019-20 salary cap.