I don't get the fascination with paying the tax. If you look at the top 5 tax paying teams:
GSW
BKN
NYK
CLE
LAL
How many of those franchises would you rather be?
Obviously the Warriors, right?
But, for more perspective, this is how much the various teams have spent in tax since 2001, not including last season:
1) Golden State Warriors: $337,841,573 (4 titles)
2) Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets: $297,855,872
3) New York Knicks: $248,542,987
4) Cleveland Cavaliers: $179,622,897 (1 title)
5) L.A. Lakers: $171,795,994 (5 titles)
6) Dallas Mavericks: $150,530,433 (1 title)
7) L.A. Clippers: $117,898,859
8 ) Portland Trail Blazers: $109,148,302
9) Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle Supersonics: $106,443,551
10) Milwaukee Bucks: $57,565,881 (1 title)
11) Miami Heat: $52,903,034 (3 titles)
12) Boston Celtics: $50,632,705 (1 title)
The only title-winning franchises that have spent less tax than us are the Raptors, Spurs and Pistons (who last contended when the tax was a lot smaller). Spending doesn't guarantee titles. However, not spending seemingly makes it harder to win.