Why the Los Angeles Lakers Must Get Rid of Metta World Peace

There is one thing about the NBA--and every other professional sports league--that we tend to forget sometimes. As much as we love our teams and the players that don our favorite jerseys; as much as we cheer and pray that they will make the final shot; as much as identify with "our team"--it doesn't change the reality of things.

It's a business.

For the Los Angeles Lakers, the cost of doing business was pretty steep last year. In fact, the Lakers had the largest luxury tax bill in the league for the 2012-13 season; more than double of the second highest mark.

$29,259,739.

And that was for a season filled with strife that saw its head coach fired, its superstar injured, and a first round sweep by the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs. To get under the line someone had to go; that someone happens to be Metta World Peace.

They were not alone in racking up a luxury tax bill. The Miami Heat owe right around $13. million; a price I am sure they will be glad to pay having won the Finals. In a close third came the Brooklyn Nets at $12.88 million followed by the New York Knicks ($9.9 million), Chicago Bulls ($3.9 million), and the Boston Celtics ($1.18 million).

While last season's bill has to be scary for the Lakers, what it could look like in 2014 is even worse if they don't get at least close to the salary cap. In line with the collective bargaining agreement, the salary cap is going to be $58.679 million with the luxury tax line set at $71.748 million.

The structure for assessing penalties for surpassing the line are as follows:

• $0-$4.99 million over tax level: $1.50 for $1
• $5-$9.99 million over tax level: $1.75 for $1
• $10-$14.99 million over tax level: $2.50 for $1
• $15-$19.99 million over tax level: $3.25 for $1

For every additional $5 million over the penalty increases $.50 for every dollar.

So if you are going to spend with an eye on wining the NBA Finals, you better win the NBA Finals. Otherwise it is going to cost a ton of money to be just another team.