The stars, storylines and showdowns you need to know for the NBA playoffs

The NBA has created a system of increased parity with their successive collective bargaining agreements. The new second luxury tax apron will make building a sustainable title contender even more difficult.

When viewed independently, each of the penalties aren’t excessively punitive, but in the aggregate they make managing a front office particularly difficult.

“Each individual thing is manageable, but all of it together is crippling,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN.

The Golden State Warriors, for example, traded Jordan Poole as he was beginning a four-year extension due to their luxury tax concerns, whereas in 2020 they took on the long-term contract of Andrew Wiggins while also receiving a protected future first round pick that became Jonathan Kuminga.

The Boston Celtics allowed Grant Williams to leave in restricted free agency in a cost cutting move, while the Los Angeles Clippers also exercised some level of austerity in letting Eric Gordon become a free agent.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo has agreed to re-sign with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Antetokounmpo had other free agent options, including the New York Knicks.