Last season s luxury tax: Suns had the highest 150 million, Lakers Celtics exceeded 50 million, and the Thunder can still share the money

Last season, a total of 10 teams in the league had a total salary exceeding the luxury tax line, so they had to pay a luxury tax of up to $461 million. These 10 teams are the Suns, Timberwolves, Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Nuggets, Warriors, Mavericks, and Heat. The remaining 20 teams do not have to pay luxury tax, and they will also share the luxury tax paid by these 10 teams, with an average of 11.53 million per team. It is particularly worth mentioning that the Thunder won the championship last season, not only did they not have to pay luxury taxes, but they could also share the money.

Among the above 10 teams that pay luxury tax, the Suns are the highest luxury tax and the only team with more than $100 million. The Suns' luxury tax alone reached $152 million last season, even exceeding the total salary of some teams. This is mainly because the contracts of the Big Three Suns are all maxed, and each of them is around $50 million.

The Suns not only paid a huge luxury tax, but the most important thing is that they also missed the playoffs and the playoffs. They were the only two teams that paid the luxury tax but did not make the playoffs, and the other team was the Mavericks. But the Mavericks were mainly affected by large-scale injuries and missed the playoffs, and they also played in the playoffs. Fortunately, the Suns have already removed the combination of the Big Three, so there is no need to pay a luxury tax next season.

In addition, the Timberwolves' luxury tax last season was as high as $90 million. Although it is not as much as the Suns, it is also quite a lot. However, the Timberwolves finally reached the Western Conference Finals last season, so paying so much tax is not a big loss. But the Timberwolves are just a small football market, and it is not cost-effective to pay too much luxury tax.

Next, the Lakers and the Celtics' luxury tax last season both exceeded $50 million. The lineups of both teams are relatively luxurious, and there are many star players in the team, so it is normal for the high luxury tax to be paid. But unfortunately, the Lakers were eliminated by the Timberwolves in the first round, and the Celtics were eliminated by the Knicks in the second round and missed the title. Fortunately, after the Celtics traded Porzingis and Holiday one after another, the luxury tax will also drop significantly next season.

The Knicks' lineup was also relatively luxurious last season, paying a luxury tax of $38 million. They eventually reached the Eastern Conference Finals, so it is also worth it. The Bucks had a luxury tax of nearly $30 million last season, but unfortunately they were eliminated by the Pacers in the first round, but mainly because Lillard was injured. The Nuggets' luxury tax also reached US$20 million, and they fought in two consecutive rounds to the tiebreak, eventually losing to the Thunder and ended in the semi-finals. The Warriors' luxury tax last season exceeded $15 million. Although they made it to the playoffs through the playoffs, they completed the Black Seven against the Rockets in the first round. Unfortunately, they were eliminated 4-1 by the Timberwolves because Curry was injured in the second round. The Mavericks and the Heat had luxury taxes of more than $5 million and $4 million last season, respectively, but the Mavericks did not make the playoffs due to too many injuries. After the Heat traded Butler, although they made it to the playoffs, they were swept by the Cavaliers in the first round, and each game was a crushing defeat.