I could see it but I wouldn't pay much. 1 good pick, 1 mediocre pick and a role player. Frankly the entire media is going to realize soon that no one is ever again paying more than 2 picks for Kawhi till he retires. He's going to be a kind of bonus player in the NBA who can get you over the hump - if you're already making the conference finals and need to get further for example. Like adding Kevin Durant to a 72-win team kind of thing. He has either the worst knee in the NBA or the least tolerance for pain in the NBA and both of those have now manifested into catastrophic risks. He has now proven to everyone that load management works but not for him. I think it works FOR US because we can lean on our young players and when he doesn't play we're developing. He would have great lessons about how to develop a handle and a jumpshot and the mindset of winning championships. However, I don't think Kawhi is going anywhere that's not a contender and he's the kind of player who if he doesn't want to play... he just won't play. So I'm not sure it's a fit as far as each party's goals.
The reasons you mention are why he may not be untouchable. I would not consider him a primary target. If Jaylen gets too costly to trade for and you want to use up cap space I could see worse options. I'm inclined to overpay someone younger like Grant Williams and hope he's not Ariza or Harrison Barnes before Kawhi, but I think I would have to think about it. He is a player that the younger guys would have to respect and he has rings. His issue of being a little spacey and demanding may be controlled better by Ime. I would guess he would be like the 6th priority to me... can't rule out but he's better than running things back as is... You prefer luxury tax savings sitting on the bench?
