Rockets owner 'absolutely' open to paying luxury tax for contender

What's a few more million on the bill after you've already paid $2.2 billion?

Tilman Fertitta is thrilled to have finally landed the Houston Rockets after falling short in the bidding two decades ago. He paid the highest price in NBA history to secure the Rockets, and if they're truly contending for a title, Feritta is willing to continue his generosity.

Feritta told Yaron Weitzman of Bleacher Report he is "absolutely" willing to pay the luxury tax to contend.

"When you start looking to the future and into keeping this team together, if that's what it's going to take, then I'm going to leave it to the basketball people and look at their recommendations," Fertitta said.

"These guys are smart, they know you don't want to be in the luxury tax unless you think you have a team that can take you to The Finals - if that's the case then who cares about paying that tax? You do whatever you have to do."

Houston went to the Western Conference Finals three seasons ago, but they were clearly too far back of the Golden State Warriors to be considered contenders. To that end, they recruited Chris Paul to make a formidable duo with James Harden, which definitely counts as an upgrade, although Paul's history against the Warriors is unfortunate.