The draft concluded, and the summer trading window officially opened.
The Lakers announced Kobe's six-year, seventy-million-dollar contract extension with great fanfare, intending to put pressure on He Xi Meng.
As a result, He Xi Meng was completely unfazed and even leaked news of his plan to leave the Lakers.
Other teams in the league extended olive branches to He Xi Meng, and naturally, the first to contact him was the Spurs!
Popovich warmly invited He Xi Meng to San Antonio for a meeting. As long as He Xi Meng agreed to join the Spurs, the management would do their best to satisfy all his conditions...
He Xi Meng accepted Popovich's invitation, making the Spurs his first stop for negotiations.
For this meeting with the Spurs, He Xi Meng was accompanied by John and Cui Tianci. Popovich brought Spurs owner Pete, David Robinson, who was nominally still the team's elder star, and the de facto current star, rookie number 21, Duncan.
Pete and David Robinson were present to show respect and to reason with him.
Duncan was brought along for personal connection and to appeal to him emotionally.
Popovich had considered everything, preparing for both public and private approaches.
The conditions He Xi Meng presented to the Spurs were the same as those for the Lakers: a three-to-four-year contract, an annual salary of ten million dollars, and the need for partial management authority, mainly in recommending rookies or players. Of course, management authority could also be understood as "privileges."
"Could you explain the peculiar condition of needing management privileges?" Popovich, at first, didn't quite understand He Xi Meng's intention.
"Because I believe I have a talent for selecting players! I can help the team find draft picks with greater potential and cost-effective players who are a better fit for the team's roster..."
"We like cost-effective players!" Popovich affirmed He Xi Meng's values. "However, at your age, isn't it a bit early to be considering management-level things?"
He Xi Meng smiled and countered, "What kind of point guard do you think I am?"
Popovich answered without hesitation, "Excellent court vision, outstanding command ability, calm, organized, sharp long-range shooting – you're a relatively all-around, top-tier point guard..."
"Just a point guard?"
"In fact, Xi Meng has always been a very outstanding interim coach!" Duncan, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke up.
"During his time at Wake Forest University, Xi Meng often replaced Mr. Dave Odom to become our team's de facto on-court coach! Roster pairings, tactical adjustments, rotation tempo... Xi Meng handled it all exceptionally well... I suspect that the reason Xi Meng is asking for peculiar management privileges might be related to some kind of complex he has, such as coaching..."
He Xi Meng interrupted the expressionless but eloquent Duncan with a helpless look. "Tim, don't use your psychology analysis on me..."
"Alright! You're getting a little defensive, which means I've hit the nail on the head..." Duncan wasn't afraid of He Xi Meng. After all, they had lived together for nearly a year...
"Tim is right, isn't he?" Popovich pressed He Xi Meng.
He Xi Meng didn't hide his intentions from Popovich. "From a certain perspective, Tim is correct. Deep down, I do have a persistent complex... If, back then, I hadn't chosen the path of a professional player, I would definitely have become a professional coach... I am indeed quite interested in coaching..."
He Xi Meng paused, then continued, "However, the reason I'm asking for partial management authority now is genuinely for the good of the team! If, and I'm saying if it must be tied to my own interests, then as a point guard, the engine of the team, I hope my teammates are all smart, basketball-loving, capable, and easy-going guys... I don't know if this explanation will satisfy you more?"
"Understood!" Spurs owner Pete nodded. "I understand, Xi Meng wants partial authority in selecting teammates, to work with the management and invite a group of like-minded individuals to play together... From an owner's perspective, I don't see a problem with this request! Reducing internal friction within the team and finding cost-effective, stable players also helps management reduce trial-and-error costs... Of course, the final decision is yours, Gregg, after all, Xi Meng wants to take away some of the power that rightfully belongs to you? Whether it's drafting rookies or building the roster..."
He Xi Meng knew that Pete had always trusted Popovich implicitly. Otherwise, he wouldn't have handed over all management and coaching responsibilities to Popovich alone. Popovich was essentially paying himself, a situation unmatched in the entire league. Therefore, tracing back to the roots, the Spurs becoming a unique and peculiar team in the league was not without its origins.
Pete respected Popovich, and Popovich naturally respected Pete. This was a mutual appreciation between friends, far exceeding the typical employer-employee relationship between an owner and a manager.
Since Pete had given his affirmative opinion, Popovich's slight lingering doubts vanished.
Popovich flashed his signature charming smile and joked, "I've long been tired of playing the role of earning one salary for two jobs! If Xi Meng is willing, he might as well take on the role of Spurs head coach too! I have no objections at all..."
Both John and Cui Tianci were very surprised at how agreeable the Spurs were.
"However, let's be blunt! We can grant privileges, but could you slightly lower your annual salary? You know, the Spurs aren't like the Lakers; we're a small market. If your salary is too high, the team's flexibility in recruiting other role players will be very limited..." Popovich then launched into his usual plea.
This wasn't Popovich deliberately feigning. For the Spurs, salary cap was indeed a significant issue. The Pete family's financial resources were far inferior to the Buss family's. The Spurs' operational principle had always been to be thrifty and make do year after year.
"I will appropriately take a pay cut to free up some salary cap space for you!" David Robinson, who had remained silent, finally spoke up at a crucial moment. So, the Spurs' culture of taking pay cuts was inherited from this "honest man"!
Last season, David Robinson's annual salary had reached $14.8 million. This season, to help the team gain more salary cap space and sign more capable players to improve the team's roster, David Robinson voluntarily took a pay cut of $3.2 million, bringing it down to $11.6 million. This would help the Spurs avoid touching the luxury tax line as much as possible.
With David Robinson leading the way, He Xi Meng had no choice but to follow suit. "Of course! Money, for me, is not a major issue. Of course, it can't be too ridiculous. After all, annual salary equates to worth and status!"
"That's for sure! We don't want to become a target of league investigation..."