With the new CBA, virtually every team vying for an NBA Championship has one eye set on the Larry O'Brien Trophy and the other on their payroll. The OKC Thunder, however, seem to be the exception to this trend, and Ajay Mitchell is a prime example of why.
As a result of the league's new fiscal agreement, taxpayer penalties are more crippling than ever.
Not only do teams still have to deal with the luxury tax, but they also must watch out for the first and, even more daunting, second apron penalties, the latter of which is essentially designed to prevent dynasties.