Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
NBA teams collectively spent $5.1 billion last season between payroll and luxury tax penalties. If this season’s tax projections hold up, that figure will reach $5.3 billion.
The following teams are slightly below the tax: Chicago Bulls ($1.7 million below), Cleveland Cavaliers ($752,133 below), Dallas Mavericks ($3.5 million below), Minnesota Timberwolves ($2.4 million below), New York Knicks ($2.8 million below), and Toronto Raptors ($3.2 million below). None of these teams are expected to be taxpayers this season, except maybe the Knicks if they can acquire an All-Star mid-season.
Based on the current projections, the 22 non-taxpaying teams would collect $11.8 million each from the distribution pool.
As of now, ten teams are projected to be taxpayers next season: the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Phoenix Suns.
