Why eye-popping, jaw-dropping salaries, luxury taxes are new normal for Thunder

General manager Sam Presti and the Thunder face a projected $100-million-plus luxury tax bill for next season. [Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman]

Now that we know the answer to the Thunder's biggest question of the offseason — what will Paul George do? — a new query has emerged.

How the heck are they gonna pay for all this?

Late Tuesday night, the latest piece of the Thunder puzzle fell into place when Raymond Felton agreed to return to the team. The reserve point guard's one-year, $2.93 million deal is small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, but it marks a very significant milestone.

It pushed the current combined bill for Oklahoma City's salary and projected luxury tax to $300 million.