One Drake lyric for every player on the Toronto Raptors
By Lior Kozai
Kyle Lowry
"“You say I’m old news, well who the new star? / Cause if I’m going anywhere, it’s probably too far” (Over My Dead Body)"
Kyle Lowry was the most difficult Raptor to choose a lyric for. I was tempted to go with “Are these people really discussing my career again?” from the same song as the lyric above. But that only really applies to Lowry every April, when a couple of poor shooting nights suddenly become a referendum on his entire career.
Other contenders include “I know I said top-five, but I’m top-two, and I’m not two” (Gyalchester) and the simple, “You the f***in’ best” (Best I Ever Had). Either of these would be a nod to Lowry’s “greatest Raptor ever” status, cemented with June’s NBA championship.
So, why did we go with the above?
Well, Lowry is 33 and heading into a contract year. Following Kawhi Leonard’s departure, it’s no surprise that people have started suggesting trade destinations; it makes sense to send Lowry to a contender, if he so wishes. If we’re talking strictly business here, Lowry doesn’t make much practical sense for the timeline of a potential rebuild. In a way, he’s “old news.”
But who’s replacing Lowry? It’s tempting to say that Fred VanVleet could fill his shoes, but we can’t forget how badly VanVleet struggled before lighting the world on fire in the NBA Finals. There’s no “new star” in place yet in Toronto, at least not at the point guard position.
Earlier this month, Lowry shut down the notion that he’d be happier elsewhere, saying that he wants to be in Toronto and he’d even sign an extension if that’s possible. An extension seems unlikely, but if Lowry wants to finish his career in Toronto, it’s hard to imagine the Raptors dealing him after winning the title.
So, yes: If Lowry’s going anywhere, it’s probably too far.