Brian Windhorst and a team of ESPN's Insiders sort out life and the news from in and around the NBA world, including the teams that have spent wildly to win, the buyout market already making noise and the New Orleans Pelicans working through their losing streak.
The last time Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wrote a luxury tax check, Kyrie Irving was celebrating winning Rookie of the Year in 2012.
Nikola Jokic was 15 years old the last time the Denver Nuggets paid it.
The Boston Celtics spent more in luxury tax in trading for backup center Mike Muscala alone last Thursday than they had paid in the past nine seasons combined.
Counting billionaires' money isn't the most relevant thing when evaluating teams' readiness for a playoff run. But it showcases the amount of pressure that is building within franchises as the postseason nears.
After another round of star movement at the Feb. 9 trade deadline, this spring is shaping up to be an intense ride for a few teams that have moved their chips into the middle in ways not seen in years.
"It's about this year, it's not about [trades] that will pay dividends in two or three years," Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said on a team broadcast last week. "Muscle up and get the job done. That's [team president Brad Stevens'] instructions and that's what we're going to try to do."
The Muscala move cost the Celtics an additional $6 million in luxury tax -- though it was offset by a recent deal to offload the salary of Noah Vonleh -- and Grousbeck and his partners are now looking at more than $60 million in taxes this season on top of a $175 million payroll.
The Celtics have never spent like this. In the previous nine seasons, the Celtics spent a total of $3 million in taxes. They were a consistent taxpayer in the Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett/Ray Allen era between 2008 and 2013 but not at this pace -- even adjusted for inflation.
This story is playing out across the league, and it begs the question about fallout next summer when inevitably there are disappointments. (There is belief that a new media rights deal will change the spending landscape, but that is at least two years away.)