Because it was the will of the management, or to be more precise, that of Heisley with whom he had a brief encounter during the championship ceremony.
Not at all surprising. From the information Hansen gathered previously, the renewals of Guy, Conley, and without exception, all were pressed for a lower price.
Small market, poor owner, they'll squeeze where they can until it becomes an inertia.
San Antonio Spurs and Thunders, Manu Ginobili and Harden, it wasn't unique to Memphis.
By this logic, Cavaliers' Gilbert was a good one, after all, when James was there, he paid a huge luxury tax every year.
Moreover, this price pressure was even more warranted, given Hansen just announced the goal of a three-peat, which naturally required sacrifices.
For if sacrifices weren't made, the core roster wouldn't hold, and without it, the assurance for a three-peat would vanish.
