Bucks' Fear of the Luxury Tax Means They're Not a Real NBA Title Contender
By Brendan Azoff
The Milwaukee Bucks traded Malcolm Brogdon to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, proving once again that their ownership is unwilling to pay the luxury tax that occurs when a team goes over the given salary cap threshold.
The Bucks simply refused to pay the tax to retain Brogdon, simultaneously creating insignificant cap space in both the near and the long term, while making the team worse.
— Dean Maniatt (@AllTheBucks) June 30, 2019
Owners that aren't willing to pay the tax have no business controlling an NBA team.
Brogdon was signed to a four-year, $85 million contract before being dealt, a number Bucks ownership was unwilling to pay for a good core piece. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe already on the roster with Brogdon, the Bucks seemed prime to compete for years to come.
Instead of competing, however, ownership continued their frugality, moving on from Brogdon without adding any NBA-ready assets, as they picked up three draft picks in return.
TRADE ALERT ?
— Taste Of Sport (@TasteOfSport) June 30, 2019
Pacers get: Malcom Brogdon
Bucks get: 1st rnd pick & 2 2nd rnd picks
Brogdon also signs a 4yr/$85million deal#NBAFreeAgency2019 #Brodgon pic.twitter.com/8K7i9Kmhuj
As we have seen throughout the league, there is a direct correlation between the contenders in the NBA and the money they have spent. After moving Brogdon, the Bucks have the tenth-highest payroll, a position which has undoubtedly making ownership uncomfortable.
The Bucks had a chance to build and maintain a contending team, and their ownership has just thrown that away.