I think the big market teams are doing this sort of thing regularly now. Heard a Raptors beat writer saying on the radio a couple years back that the Clips were at least loosely affiliated with a bunch of business deals that were granted to Kawhi's crew.
LeBron and AD going to the Lakers feels fishy too. Like many non-basketball arrangements were set up in advance, and were predicated on their going to LA and only to LA.
Not surprised about any of this.