Masai found SA in a position that no one they were interested in shipping Kawhi to was willing to give up what SA wanted. So the Raps became the only game in town. Masai knew DeMar was on a time limit and they weren't going to get anything of significant future value for him given his contract. SA was about to get stuck with a generational player with no interest in playing for them. They got an All Star workhorse. The Raptors got Kawhi the fresh start/re-start he was craving. He may not be happy about it, but he knows he needs to ball to reclaim his status.

Brilliant move by Masai.