Kyle Lowry is one of the greatest players in Toronto Raptors history. That said, his time with the franchise is inevitably going to come to an end soon.
The Raptors are in the midst of a rebuild. They don’t need a veteran 34-year-old point guard for the future. And quite frankly, they don’t need him in the present either. Toronto is 16-0 in its last 16 outings with Lowry.
So where does that leave all parties involved?
Lowry’s one-year, $30.5 million contract is up at the end of this season. He is currently boasting averages of 17.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists through 25 games this year. By any objective measure, when he’s healthy, he can be a beneficial contributor to any team he’s a part of.
So who could Toronto ultimately deal Lowry to at this juncture?
There appear to be two viable options: the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers.
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, there is real interest out there on behalf of Philly.
“League sources say Philadelphia, which came up short in its bid for Harden, is still seeking major moves to increase its championship odds,” he wrote. “But one name to monitor is Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, a 34-year-old Philadelphia native in the final season of his contract.”
Yikes. https://t.co/QLxoyytPQl
— Game 7 (@game7__) February 21, 2021
The Sixers are clearly in championship or bust mode this year. Lowry would do very well under Doc Rivers, and his skill set would be extremely helpful in the playoffs when the game slows down and Ben Simmons’ offensive weaknesses suddenly become more pronounced.
If not Philly, the Clippers also make a ton of sense. They were mentioned as a potential suitor several months ago, and the case for them pulling the trigger on this deal has only intensified since then. LA has been described by many as looking to make a big move, and this would certainly qualify. It would also address the one request Kawhi Leonard made of his organization in the offseason – getting an offense-first point guard that can do what Patrick Beverley cannot.
One way or another, it feels like Lowry’s days in Toronto are numbered. Where he’ll end up next remains to be seen.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.