You play GM: Decide the fate of the Toronto Raptors offseason
The Kyle Lowry deal
With Mike Conley on the Utah Jazz, Kyle Lowry is the only point guard on the market who doesn’t require a mountain-sized commitment (cough… Chris Paul). He’s well paid at $30 million per season but has just one year left on his deal.
Indy could take him into their cap for a return slightly lesser than Domantas Sabonis. Orlando or Phoenix feel like two franchises just primed to take an ill-advised risk, and the Detroit Pistons, have been looking to upgrade at point guard for a while.
Detroit’s offer
Detroit is looking to upgrade from Reggie Jackson, as the franchise inquired about Conley earlier this offseason. Lowry is likely a consolation prize for them. However, he’s a short-term contract and should be available for a reasonable cost. Dwane Casey also knows what he is getting into.
Toronto will take a step back next year but earns two solid assets in Luke Kennard and a 2020 1st round pick, lottery protected.
Take the Pistons offer for Kyle Lowry
Indiana’s offer
The Pacers were reportedly interested in Mike Conley’s services earlier this summer but were unwilling to match what the Utah Jazz’s deal. Unfortunately for Toronto, that package wasn’t great.
Utah gave up reasonable matching salaries, two late first round picks, and Grayson Allen. Kyle Lowry is unlikely to command as much as Lowry on the trade market. If the Raptors trade Kyle Lowry into space, they’re unlikely to receive much in return.
For the Pacers to have the cap space necessary to take on Lowry and keep key piece veteran Bojan Bogdanovic, they’ll also have to shed Doug McDermott. McDermott is a negative value contract at this point and will need at two second’s attached if someone is going to take him.
The third team in the deal doesn’t really matter. It could be New Orleans, Atlanta, or any other team willing to take on salaries for draft compensation.
It might not seem like the Raptors are getting much in this deal, and to be frank they’re not. But think of it from the Indiana perspective, you’re getting a 33-year-old point guard on a $33 million contract coming into your cap space. You can’t sell the farm for that package.
The deal also clears room for some cap space. Toronto can use that cap to sign players or to take on bad money.
Take the Pacers offer for Kyle Lowry
Phoenix’s offer
If you believe in player-franchise loyalty, doing what’s best for your franchise icon, or are just against cruel and unusual punishment, you might not want to send Kyle Lowry to the Suns. The Suns are a disaster of a franchise with an owner who might be worse than James Dolan. However, that also makes them prime candidates to offer too much for an aging, veteran point guard.
Lowry doesn’t fit the Suns’ timeline, he might not stay past this year, and he’s a somewhat average compliment to Devin Booker. But he does help them right away, and the Suns aren’t afraid to make all-in moves, despite winning few games the season prior.
In all seriousness, Lowry instantly increases the competency of this Suns team, and if a few things swing right, they could make a Kings-esq run for the eight seed.
You shouldn’t expect a ton, but the Suns could make a reasonable offer for Lowry:
Due to a couple of draft day transactions, the Suns are able to trade for Lowry without providing full matching salary. Toronto takes on Tyler Johnson for one year, and also receives a first-round pick. With Lowry on a one-year deal and a couple of firsts for 2020 already accumulated, the Raptors will push the year of obligation to 2021, when the Suns have a Bucks first-round pick to soften the blow.