More importantly, Hardaway was cheap!
Hardaway was not short of money. Throughout his career, he had earned $120 million. Now, he just wanted to run on the basketball court, train with his teammates, fight together, and enjoy the joy that basketball brought!
The current Seattle SuperSonics team was a great fit for Penny.
Thus, for just a two-year, $2 million veteran minimum contract, Presti brought the former successor to Jordan back to Seattle.
As He Xi Meng had predicted, Kobe was very happy!
Fighting alongside his idol, Kobe shed some of his arrogance and gained a touch of shyness, as if reliving his youth…
From Penny Hardaway, He Xi Meng's thoughts turned to another successor to Jordan: Grant Hill!
Hill's contract with the Magic last season, worth $17 million, had ended, making him a completely free agent.
Due to persistent injuries, Hill was now not only unable to get a big contract but not even a mid-level exception contract.
To return to the court, Hill had to start with a minimum contract.
However, as a former top player, money could be secondary, but a starting position was essential!
In other words, Hill was prepared to work for free to prove he was still capable!
The Phoenix Suns had initially offered Hill a starting position and were ready to bring him to Phoenix for a bargain price of $2.5 million over two years.
As both sides were about to sign the contract, He Xi Meng appeared out of nowhere and shattered this alliance!
He Xi Meng personally called Hill and promised him the starting small forward position!
He Xi Meng's thinking was that Durant was young in his first season and could play the sixth man role off the bench!
Off the bench, Durant could maximize his scoring talent. In the starting lineup, if he, Kobe, and He Xi Meng were all there, how would they divide the shots? Right?
If it didn't work out, they could always have Hill play sixth man… Since he was here and the contract was signed, it would ultimately be up to the head coach whether he started or not.
After all, the contract wouldn't stipulate a guaranteed starting spot, right?
This time, Hill's recovery from injury exceeded most teams' expectations in the league, and the Suns thought they had gotten a great bargain.
Now, that great bargain was likely to be snatched away by the SuperSonics.
More precisely, it was being swiped by He Xi Meng.
What the Suns' miracle doctors could do, He Xi Meng should also be able to do.
At the very least, in terms of managing playing time and recovery, He Xi Meng's skill was not first in the league, but at least second!
Hill was still hesitant. Penny Hardaway, who had just decided to join, also called Hill to encourage him.
And so, Hill sold himself to Seattle with his bargain contract of $2.5 million for two years and the trust that "He Xi Meng probably wouldn't lie."
After successfully recruiting Francis, Penny Hardaway, and Grant Hill, three veterans, He Xi Meng became addicted to picking up players in the veteran market.
He Xi Meng immediately suggested to Presti that they poach Mutombo from the Rockets and Webber from the Pistons.
Mutombo's publicly stated age this season was 41, but his actual age was anyone's guess.
However, Mutombo's condition was still decent, and he could barely serve as a backup center, guiding Pau Gasol.
Mutombo's requested salary was not high, just a two-year, $2 million veteran minimum. While the Rockets were still hesitating whether to sign him, the SuperSonics overtook them, and through Francis's personal connections, directly lured Mutombo into their fold.
Webber, after being bought out by the 76ers last year, joined the Pistons, hoping to ride the Pistons' wave to a championship. Little did he know, the Pistons lost to He Xi Meng's Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, ending the 2006-2007 season with lingering regret.
After the season, Webber became a free agent and was largely ignored in the veteran market.
Webber was currently in contact with the Golden State Warriors, hoping to return to where his career began to end it. However, before signing a contract with the Warriors, he received an invitation from the SuperSonics.
For Webber, the opportunity to once again ride along in pursuit of a championship was a no-brainer!
So, Webber happily signed a one-year, $1 million veteran minimum contract.
Webber was not short of money either. Besides the $1 million from the SuperSonics, the Philadelphia 76ers would still pay him $19 million in salary this season!
Strictly speaking, Webber was the highest-paid player on the SuperSonics, even more so than He Xi Meng and Kobe!
And so, under He Xi Meng's command, Presti operated, assembling a Super-Veteran bench lineup with an average age of 35!
Center Mutombo, 41; Power Forward Webber, 34; Small Forward Hill, 34; Shooting Guard Hardaway, 36; Point Guard Francis, 30.
He Xi Meng still wanted to rummage through the veteran market, but Presti couldn't take it anymore.
"Enough, Simon! We have enough veterans on the team to open a nursing home! Don't sign any more old guys, we need promising rookies now!"
"Oh, right, my apologies! I got carried away. Rookies, huh? I can give you a few names. See how many you can trade for. Any players from last season can be used as chips!"
"Leave none behind?"
"Trade away anyone we can!"
"Is that a good idea?"
"There's nothing wrong with it! Listen to Simon!"
With the big boss, John, making the final decision, Presti's work efficiency was very high.
Presti first traded for PJ Tucker from the Celtics.
Tucker's ability to play both shooting guard and small forward didn't impress MJ too much, so he was put on the trade block.
Since MJ didn't want him, He Xi Meng reluctantly brought him to the SuperSonics.
Tucker was very excited to fight alongside He Xi Meng again, patting his chest loudly and guaranteeing he wouldn't disappoint He Xi Meng.
After sorting out Tucker, He Xi Meng had Presti trade for Thabo Sefolosha from the Bulls.
Sefolosha was not valued by the Bulls, so the SuperSonics didn't have to pay much to bring the Swiss Army Knife back to Seattle.
Due to physical reasons, Xu Yong, although selected by the SuperSonics, was directly sent by He Xi Meng for surgery and did not ultimately sign, so he would not be able to return this season.
The SuperSonics had two remaining roster spots, and He Xi Meng let Presti use his discretion.
While Presti was busy scouting promising rookie players across the league, He Xi Meng took John to find a new head coach for the SuperSonics!