The cost of keeping Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson under max contracts as well as re-signing a trusty Kevon Looney would put the Golden State Warriors in uncharted waters. While they still have a shot to continue their dynasty, despite their injury-riddled end to their recent postseason, the Warriors could become the most expensive team in league history by doing all the above.
According to projections by ESPN Insider Bobby Marks, the Warriors' payroll for the 2019-20 season could balloon to more than $375 million by signing Durant and Thompson to a max deal while keeping Looney, including more than $200 million in luxury taxes.
This would create the most expensive team in league history, one which the Warriors could afford due to the brand-new state-of-the-art Chase Center that will open this upcoming season in downtown San Francisco.
The new arena is estimated to generate more than $200 million in new revenue, which could by itself nullify any extra expenses from the luxury tax.
If there's something the Warriors ownership has learned over the past few years: winning comes at a price. Yet the price has never gotten so exorbitantly huge for a team with championship aspirations.
Ownership is maniacally obsessed with maintaining success, and they have the funds to do it. As Andre Iguodala once put it, Joe Lacob is still smelling the roses of what success could mean in the NBA, but he's yet to experience what it feels like to be in the decline.
That could very well happen if Durant walks this summer, but the hope is that keeping Thompson and Looney could be enough of a fort to extend this window of championship opportunity.
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