USA Today via Reuters
Mar 17, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) reacts during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 17, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) reacts during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Lowry was minutes away from being traded away from the Toronto Raptors. However, the trade deadline came and went with Lowry staying put. He has said he one day wants to retire on the team, so it seems he is making another step towards that.
But why did Lowry, one of the best assets available, end up not being moved? This is in the background of Toronto moving on from players like Norman Powell, Matt Thomas, and Terrence Davis. NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski revealed why Lowry ended up remaining in Toronto.
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“Masai was going to see what the market was going to bring back for him. He never felt he had to trade him or he had to give him away. And I think also, Kyle Lowry was fine with finishing up this season in Toronto. He has loved playing there and certainly, it’s not the same this year playing in Tampa. But they got right down to it, 2:55 they were still going back and forth with the Laker, Philly, Miami. Ultimately, he just didn’t see a deal there that he wanted to do.”
Woj added a specific detail about why Miami didn’t end up trading for Lowry. “There’s going to be limits. Miami’s not trading away a 21-year-old Tyler Herro for Kyle Lowry at this stage of his career. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Kyle Lowry: Should he have been moved?
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 17, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) puts his hands on his head during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
What the Raptors did with Kyle Lowry should be an example to many people. They didn’t let the market undersell them on their star veteran and chose to keep him rather than sell him for cheap. This is unlike what teams like Houston have recently done, as a trade for James Harden got them low first-round picks and Victor Oladipo.
Oladipo was moved with the best-returning player being Kelly Olynyk from Miami. Safe to say, this team have not gotten a James Harden level talent back. While Lowry isn’t the same profile, he is a legend in Toronto.
Masai Ujiri has chosen to respect Lowry by not forcing him out for invaluable picks or players that don’t match up. While the Raptors will most probably be out of the Playoffs, Lowry will get to see the season and his contract out.
