That owner Stan Kroenke is willing to pay the luxury tax is nothing new — Denver began last season on course for the dollar-for-dollar hit, and those Nuggets were careening toward irrelevance.

The Hornets' payroll is close to the NBA's luxury tax threshold, and team officials have said they do not want to pay the tax or take on new debt while the sale of the club is pending.

In order not to land on Boardwalk first, Lovey allowed one of the dice to fall to the floor, claiming a number that put her on Luxury Tax, whatever that was, instead.