Confirming what most have believed about the Milwaukee Bucks' future plans, general manager Jon Horst said the team is not worried about going into the luxury tax to keep the core intact.

The Bucks will have to make a strong, convincing pitch to keep star Giannis Antetokounmpo and keep him out of reach from other potential suitors in big markets that could lure him away. The first step started by re-signing Eric Bledsoe to a long-term deal this past season.

The Bucks did just shave some salary by trading Tony Snell and the No. 30 pick to the Detroit Pistons for Jon Leuer, but that's helping with flexibility when it comes to the impending free agency of Antetokounmpo's best friend, Khris Middleton, followed by restricted free agent Malcolm Brogdon and unrestricted free agent Brook Lopez, who constitute the pillars of this roster:

“For us, there are a few things going on here Marc and Wes and Jamie, from the day they bought this team and committed to bringing a championship to Milwaukee,” said Horst, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “We, from that day, have committed to educating them on what that means and often it means they have to have a willingness to invest in the team and sometimes that means the luxury tax, And really the luxury tax is just the point in salary where you start paying a premium on the dollars that you spend.

“And there is no reason to believe this ownership group will not pay a premium on dollars spent if they're investing in something that can win and is sustainable over a long period of time.”

Middleton is expected to get a five-year deal for close to the max, while Brogdon and Lopez are sure to get plenty of attention from other suitors, likely making the Bucks dip their toes in the luxury tax.

A team has to be willing to spend to contend, especially when it comes to retaining homegrown talent. Having gotten that much closer to their overall goal, Horst and the Bucks will have to be willing to compensate this roster if they hope to have Antetokounmpo stick around for the long run.