There are times when NBA teams will have to spend a lot of money to build a championship-worthy roster, much like the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers did last season. The thing is, the Milwaukee Bucks joins that brief list of franchises that have highest luxury tax in the league.
Several NBA teams will face hefty luxury tax bills in the 2024 offseason, led by the Golden State Warriors, who are estimated to owe $176.9 million. The Warriors’ massive tax burden stems from the fact that five players earn more than $20 million, including the nearly $52 million salary of All-Star point guard Stephen Curry.
The Los Angeles Clippers follow with an estimated $142.4 million in taxes, largely coming from immense contracts for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Phoenix Suns ($68.2 million) and reigning champion Boston Celtics ($43.8 million) round out the top five teams paying the highest luxury taxes.
These luxury tax payments will force these teams to carefully manage their rosters and finances in the offseason. They may have to make hard decisions about taking a pay cut and staying below the tax bracket, which could impact their ability to field competitive teams next season. The sheer size of these taxes underscores the challenges facing the league’s top players as they try to build championship-level squads while navigating the NBA’s elaborate financial landscape.
Milwaukee Bucks named one of the top five teams with the highest luxury tax
Along with the Warriors, Clippers, Suns and Celtics, the Bucks are among the top five teams that pay the highest luxury tax in the NBA. In a tweet by an NBA insider Bobby Marks on XMilwaukee ranks fourth with a total tax of $52.5 million.
Unofficial luxury tax payments per team:
Golden St – $176.9 million
LAC – $142.4 million
Phoenix – $68.2 million
Milwaukee – $52.5 million
Boston – $43.8 million
Denver – $20.2 million
Miami- $15.7M
Los Angeles Lakers – $6.9 millionThe 22 teams subject to the tax are projected to receive $11.96 million each.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 18, 2024
As of now, both forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and point guard Damian Lillard have taken the lion’s share of the salary cap, having earned $45.6 million last season. Khris Middleton is next with $29 million, while huge man Brook Lopez took home $25 million.
Time will tell how Milwaukee restructures its roster in the coming months to deal with the luxury tax. Either way, the front office will certainly make some moves for next season.
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