Nets save $22 million by letting Pierce leave

As difficult as it may have been for the Brooklyn Nets to let starting forward Paul Pierce leave for on-court reasons, the move was a financial no-brainer. 

Pierce reportedly signed a two-year, $11-million deal with the Washington Wizards on Saturday, while the Nets never made him an offer in the first place. 

For the Nets, Pierce would have cost much more than the $11 million in salary he will be paid by the Wizards, due to the luxury tax bills that would have come along with the signing. 

The Nets have $90 million in salary on the books this season, which puts them in the luxury tax. The team is expected to pay roughly $115 million after factoring in the tax, and that's without the extra cash for Pierce. 

If Pierce came back, the more than $5 million he's owed this season would drive the Nets' tax cost to upwards of $132 million, a $17-million tax jump. Combined with his salary, bringing back Pierce would have essentially cost the Nets $22 million, which is roughly the same amount the Cleveland Cavaliers will pay LeBron James.