Mark Cuban explains how the Celtics built the most expensive roster in the NBA: "You just got to pay the luxury tax"

The Boston Celtics made headlines when they handed out the largest contract in NBA history to Jalen Brown and Jayson Tatum in back-to-back offseasons.

Boston signed Brown to a five-year $285 million contract during the 2023 offseason. This summer, the Celtics inked Tatum to a $314 million deal. With the NBA's salary cap for the past season at just $136 million and $140.5 million for the 2024-25 campaign, many are asking how the Celtics were able to afford both signings while also inking Jrue Holiday and Derrick White to their own extension deals.

During the recent episode of the Roommates Podcast, Josh Hart asked guest and Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban how the Celtics could keep their core despite the CBA's latest restrictions, and Mark gave him a straightforward answer.

"You can still pay somebody and take it wherever you want to take it, " replied Cuban. " You just got to pay the luxury tax."

The Celtics are on pace to pay $280 million in luxury taxes

Boston's total payroll is $227 million after signing Sam Hauser to an extension. If they fill out their remaining roster spots with their first-round pick and two minimum earners, Boston's total salaries for the 2025-26 season would be around $235 million.

According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Celtics could be facing an estimated $280 million in luxury taxes, giving them a total bill of $513 million for the 2025-26 season. That total would break the projected $433 million salaries plus taxes expected to be paid by the Phoenix Suns for the 2024-25 season and the current record of $388 million set by the Golden State Warriors. And then there are, of course, the non-cash penalties.

"After you're past the second apron," added Cuban. "I think they freeze your first-round pick. If you're past the apron in the second year, then they move it to the last pick of the draft. And then on top of that, you can't make sign and trades and all these other stuff."

Is the price worth the Larry O'Brien Trophy?

To put things in perspective, the Celtics will pay $170.4 million to their four All-Star players in Brown, KP, and Jrue during the 2025-26. That amount is higher than the projected salary cap of $154.6 million for that campaign. That's how costly Boston's current team is.

"So they did all those deals before a lot of these things kicked in, knowing when those deals are paying all those guys all that money, it's going to be expensive. It's really going to be expensive. But if you're going to win, then it's worth it. And they beat us. They got the trophy and you know, what's that worth?"

With their expensive roster, the Celtics defeated Cuban's Mavericks 4-1 during the 2024 NBA Finals. But the challenge right now is how they will juggle keeping this lineup and paying hefty luxury taxes moving forward. A lot will depend on whether they successfully defend the title next season.

Related: Jeff Teague says Celtics fans should thank USA basketball: "Now you tell he is the worst player out of all the elites"