Remember when Kyle Lowry was supposed to get traded immediately after Rudy Gay was sent packing? Oh, how the times have changed. After James Dolan turned down the offer to welcome KL7 to the New York Knicks, things have actually gotten better for Toronto’s basketball team. Kyle Lowry has embraced his important leadership role on the Toronto Raptors, and is even getting recognition for his great on-court performance around the league.
While many (myself included) would argue that trading Lowry back in December would have indicated a ‘tank’ mentality moving forward, the entire team has denied the very notion of throwing the season away; Lowry trade or not. Up to this point, the latter option has prevailed— despite losing three of the last four games, the team has built a lead for itself atop the Atlantic Division standings and has also weathered the storm of having the tenth most difficult schedule in the entire league so far.
As the 2013-2014 NBA regular season approaches 50% completion, time appears to be running out for ‘tank nation’. The Toronto Raptors have the easiest schedule going forward, and although the team has stumbled recently, with 20 wins already, they’re definitely on pace to win more games than some teams will have won by mid-April— whether or not Masai Ujiri blows up the roster. Toronto’s starting point guard has kept his composure throughout the trade rumours involving him, and he’s even made a push to make the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Yes, there is a possibility of Lowry absolutely balling due to it being his contract year; but still, I’ve seen enough progression over the past 1.5 seasons to want to keep this guy around.
A year ago, it seemed as if Dwane Casey was limiting Kyle Lowry on the floor by asking him to play a style that didn’t suit his abilities; but now, it seems like KL7 has mastered the method of finding balance in his game— getting others involved and hitting teammates in the right spots, all while still getting his own offense when need be. He’s been saying the right things off the court, and doing the correct things when he’s been out there.
Here’s the dilemma: what if he decides to leave in the offseason?
I’d say that it’s hard to deny that Lowry will get PAID this summer. My guess is that he’ll be courting offers that give him somewhere between $8 million and $10 million per season. The question is, “by whom”? This is where Masai Ujiri has a significant choice to make— a) trade Lowry by the deadline on February 20th (possibly getting a young player or two and maybe a mid-late first round draft pick back in return), b) lose him for nothing when July rolls around, or c) somehow keep him in a Raptors uniform either by extending him or re-signing him in the offseason. I really, really hope that the Raptors GM can find a way to roll with option C… under one condition, of course: the new contract is reasonable. Some teams with money to spend may be willing to overpay the standout point guard. Can Lowry take less money to stay in Toronto, while some of the salary is spent elsewhere so that the team can compete? Can Ujiri make that happen? I don’t have the answer to those questions. However, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) suddenly being open to the idea of dipping into the luxury tax may help.
Either way, let’s face it; the Toronto Raptors front-office does not want to be caught up in a situation where the team’s salary is tied up in a knot while they’re not good enough to talk title contention. Fans are all too familiar with that scenario. Hopefully this situation can be handled in a manner that contributes to the positive growth of this basketball team. The clock is ticking and February 20th is only a month away, so the direction that management goes with this predicament will be found out relatively soon.
In my humble opinion (as risky as it sounds), if Kyle Lowry can stay in Toronto at a price that doesn’t cripple future financial flexibility, KEEP HIM AROUND. However, it’s up to Masai Ujiri to figure out whether or not this can happen— preferably before the trade deadline.
1 thought on “Will Kyle Lowry Trade Talks Resurface In The Coming Weeks?”
Sign or extend him prior to the end of the season and all will be well. Trade him away and the fans will mutiny for sure. Hopefully everyone, head office and coaches, can sit around the table and discuss what should happen to Lowry so that the decision doesn’t rest solely with one person.