When Kyle Lowry re-signed with the Raptors back in July ..."/> When Kyle Lowry re-signed with the Raptors back in July ..."/>
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Did Kyle Lowry “settle” by re-signing with the Raptors?

By Chris Mckee

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 2: Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors goes through a work out during the Basketball Without Borders Africa program at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 2, 2017 in Gauteng province of Johannesburg, South Africa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 2: Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors goes through a work out during the Basketball Without Borders Africa program at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 2, 2017 in Gauteng province of Johannesburg, South Africa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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When Kyle Lowry re-signed with the Raptors back in July it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. It didn’t have the same excitement as other free agent signings across the NBA and something was just amiss. Did Lowry “settle” by re-signing with the Raptors?

When Kyle Lowry re-signed with the Raptors back in July it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi.

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Many of us have attended the wedding of a friend or family member who is getting married simply because they’re afraid of being single or they couldn’t find anybody else better. 

You can see that there is very little passion between the couple and It seems like a marriage of convenience rather than love.

They settled.

When the Raptors announced they had re-signed Lowry back in July there was very little buzz throughout the city of Toronto and the press conference they held was as bland as they come in professional sports.

It had an eerily similar feeling as that wedding I mentioned.

Lowry opted out of his contract at the end of last season to pursue the free agent market.

Prior to the NBA draft, there were rumours abuzz that Lowry may end up signing with several teams which included the Los Angeles Lakers. The Philadelphia 76ers were also listed as a potential landing spot for the three-time All-Star.

Lowry was born and raised in Philly and played his college ball in the same city for Villanova. The 76ers are loaded with young talent including the likes of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Jahlil Okafor. 

Adding a veteran, all-star point guard like Lowry to that group of youngsters would’ve instantly made the Sixers a very interesting team in the Eastern Conference.

The Washington Post was reporting that a deal with the 76ers could be in the works.

What better way for Lowry to cap off his already impressive career than playing in his hometown for a few years before transitioning into a coaching or broadcasting role with the Sixers? It’s just about every athletes dream.

The Boston Celtics were also a potential landing spot but that all changed on June 19 when the Celtics announced they had traded the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft to Philadelphia.

The Sixers of course drafted Markelle Fultz first overall and so their need for a 31 year-old point guard became null and void.

The Lakers were up next in the draft order and they too selected their point guard for the next decade in Lonzo Ball.

Lowry was now out of options.

Many of us have broken up with our significant others thinking the grass will be greener. Some people eventually realize that they aren’t cut out for nightclubs on Wednesday night and that the pickings can be very slim on Plenty of Fish and Tinder.

We then send a drunken text to our ex hoping they will take us back.

Thats kind of what this Lowry re-signing in Toronto feels like.

Lowry wrote in the Players Tribune that he decided to re-sign with the Raptors because Toronto was “home.”

LeBron James has spent more time in Toronto this offseason than Lowry so calling Toronto home is a bit of a stretch; but what else is he supposed to say?

Lowry re-signed with the Raptors for $100 million over three-years but when an all-star guard and his agent see the kind of money being thrown around elsewhere in the NBA it’s only natural to have a wandering eye and think what if.

Next: TIFF review: The Carter Effect documentary.

There are plenty of loveless marriages that work out just fine for both parties involved.

Lets hope it does for Lowry and the Raptors.

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