Thunder to use stretch provision on Carmelo Anthony to a avoid largest tax bill in NBA history?

With Paul George and Jerami Grant committed Oklahoma City now has a payroll of $156M with 11 players under contract. Because of the repeater tax penalty, the Thunder currently have a tax bill of $130M. The tax bill would be the largest in NBA history.

OKC could use the stretch provision on Carmelo Anthony.

With Paul George and Jerami Grant on board, Oklahoma City now has a payroll of $156M with 11 players under contract. Because of the repeater tax penalty, the Thunder currently have a tax bill of $130M. The tax bill would be the largest in NBA history.

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2018

Some players around the NBA believe the Thunder will stretch or buyout Carmelo Anthony. If OKC doesn't move on from Melo, they'll owe the largest tax bill in NBA history, per @BobbyMarks42. Due to repeater tax, they'd owe $130 million (with just 11 players under contract so far).

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 1, 2018