The sooner we win a title, the sooner the discounts arrive

[Androslav]

Regarding our long-term cap health.
I think that "Kawhi/Kawhi not?" talk is the extension of the Jalen Brown love and future discounts.
Tatum is off limits in trades. Good timing to make that sure to all other leagues GMs, once more.

If we get Kawhi (my 2016-17 MVP choice) we will need to give up one of them, that likelier one is JB.
And while I am pretty sure that Brown will have a great career no matter what happens to him, I am also pretty sure that a healthy (my presumption is that he will be healthy long-term) Kawhi is still a much better player. Kawhi on our team makes the title much more likely than Brown.

And we all know that titles make guys (vets, especially the ones already here) more likely to come at a discount.
http://www.businessinsider.com/nba-david-west-spurs-pay-cut-2015-9
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23905954/boston-celtics-sign-euroleague-guard-brad-wanamaker
Al Horford comes immediately to mind. After earning almost 200 mils $ by the end of 2019-20, if he opts in the final year of his current deal, I see this as a real possibility. As what more is there to achieve for him then, except to stay with his family in one place while contending for a title for the longterm.

If Al Horford takes a volunteered pay cut in 2 years, so will the upcoming ring-chasers.
If our emotional leader does this, others (already financially situated vets) will follow that behavioral pattern, more closely.
Kyrie, Tatum, Brown/Kawhi will seek the max when the time comes, and we need breaks like these to keep the momentum going.

BUT.
We need to win a title this year or the next one.
It would make Danny's job much easier next decade.

So after thinking this past week, [dang] his eyes, I would do the Kawhi deal with the 2019 title on my mind.