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Memphis Grizzlies: Money Will Make Players Crazy This Summer – Including Mike Conley

By Michael Saenz

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Both the Memphis Grizzlies and Mike Conley have a difficult decision to make this summer. Is loyalty still a factor when there’s unlimited money involved?

The amount of money that exchanges hands in any NBA offseason usually is staggering. This upcoming summer, when the salary cap is expected to rise some $20 million, the numbers will be even more stunning.

And, yes, even for NBA players, money can make them crazy.

If not crazy, at least have a lapse in judgement. Which is usually why mistakes are often made in free agency. Money is blinding, at times. But can you really blame any player for trying to hit it big when he’s hot? Can you blame the head of a family cashing out while he still has the opportunity to?

The average NBA career is roughly 4.8 years (per Business Insider). And while contracts are fully guaranteed in the NBA, it makes even more sense to seek out the most money possible. It’s only human to relax after, knowing that you have a sense of financial security.

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And that’s the dilemma most have during the summer. It could be even more of one this offseason, when almost every team will have the ability to throw max money at a free agent.

It will almost surely make players crazy, at least when it comes to their decision making. And that’s something that Mike Conley could fall into. But, who can blame him?

"[via New York Daily News]The narrative surrounding Mike Conley Jr.’s upcoming free agency is always prefaced with a caution of loyalty: “He can never leave Memphis. He grew up around there,” the logic goes. “He was instrumental in Marc Gasol re-signing and he can’t ditch his friend.”However, the coach who groomed him into an NBA star, Lionel Hollins, believes the Knicks target will chase the money and financial security.“I don’t know if Michael looks elsewhere but that might end up being the best move. Mike is at that crossroads where he’s (28) years old. He’s coming up on a contract year. He wants to get paid,” Hollins, who was fired as the Brooklyn Nets coach this season, said on SiriusXM radio."

Question is, will a team like the Grizzlies pay him the max money that a team like say the New York Knicks or Brooklyn Nets, who have reported interest in him, would be willing to throw at him?

The hope is that the answer is yes. In a perfect world, the Grizzlies would offer him the same amount of money that he’s being offered on the open market and that he can get his money while still being on the Grizzlies, the team that groomed him.

Next: 10 Best Buyout/Street Free Agents Available

However, the NBA isn’t usually a perfect world and I’m not sure if the Grizzlies would pay top money to bring back Conley, who may or may not ever be a top 5 point guard.

This summer is going to be crazy and unlike any other offseason in NBA history. Much like the Memphis Grizzlies, every team needs to be prepared for the unexpected. Money often does that to people.

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