I have to imagine the Spurs partly picked this deal to spite the Lakers. Or at least I hope so.
wouldnt the real method to spite them have been to force them to give up 2 or 3 of their young guys/picks instead of setting it up so that he signs there next offseason while they retain everyone they’ve drafted?
That was the problem, the Lakers didn't have to trade. If Kawhi didn't want to be with the Spurs anymore, with the Lakers as his preferred destination, then the Lakers controlled what the Spurs were receiving back. Spurs didn't want Ball, they were never getting Ingram.
In this instance there's the small chance the Raptors can sell Kawhi on taking the higher raise and longer contract to stay, maybe they make a Finals run, maybe he winds up liking the team/city/etc. Raptors can offer him ~$40 million more than the Lakers. If the Spurs had sent him straight to the Lakers he only lost ~$30 million off the supermax.
Raptors also have the ability to deal Kawhi again, and might be more willing than the Spurs (who wanted a player for
now back) to deal with the one team the Lakers don't want anyone dealing with, the Clippers. Especially if it becomes part of the Raptors ending this era and shifting to a rebuild, the Clips have favorable contracts and can maybe take in Ibaka or Lowry too.