Cap Space
What better selling point than telling someone they can help decide who joins them on a new team? Thanks to some brilliant moves by the front office, the Clippers can offer that to Kawhi.
With Danilo Gallinari‘s expiring contract on the books still, this might become slightly complicated. The team would likely have to move him in order to open up a second max slot, but if Kawhi is guaranteed to come, doesn’t that seem worth it?
Giving him the ability to choose who he partners with could be monumental. There are already murmurs that Al Horford would be a target and if that is something Kawhi wants, then why not?
Maybe he wants to play with Kevin Durant. The Clippers could try and land him. Who knows? The team has options.
The cap space doesn’t necessarily have to be used to offer one big contract either. Kawhi may want a group of guys who can take over and win games on nights he sits out. Sure, the team already has a walking bucket in Lou Williams, but more rotational pieces are always welcome.
Players like Marcus Morris are available. Perhaps Kawhi wants Patrick Beverley and JaMychal Green back with the team. It really could be at his discretion.
Unless the Raptors convince Marc Gasol to decline his player option or move a few pieces, they are already over the cap next year. At best, the team could re-sign some of their guys using Bird Rights and run it back.
Advantage? Clippers.