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Toronto Raptors: Looking at a potential Kyle Lowry to L.A. Lakers trade

By Jason Mills

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 09: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in action during a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 9, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 09: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors in action during a game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 9, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Raptors may be considering whether to trade the best player in franchise history in one Kyle Lowry. However, this off-season has been ripe with crazy rumors surrounding the all-time assist leader and one-time NBA champion point guard.

Bleacher Report has released an article involving the Toronto Raptors all-star point guard Kyle Lowry. They have him being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. It may be a consideration if not necessary for the Toronto Raptors management to move the 34-year-old point guard.

With his backcourt mate Fred VanVleet telling JJ Redick on the Old Man and the Three podcast that:

"“I’m trying to get paid, man. I’m not shy about that. I don’t have to tell people that I value winning”."

A hefty pay raise in free agency for VanVleet to between 20-25 million per annum could mean Toronto is paying 50 plus million to their starting point guard and shooting guard this coming season. Kyle Lowry is in the last year of a deal that pays him 30 million this year.

The Deal between the L.A. Lakers and Toronto Raptors

The article written by Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposes several deals the Los Angeles Lakers could pursue.  One is a deal that would see the Toronto Raptors divest of their heart and soul, Kyle Lowry. This proposal is indicative of the disrespect constantly shown toward what the Toronto Raptors have built in the last seven years and just how important Kyle Lowry is to the franchise.

The proposal is:

Dan Favale does suggest this would be a “Hail Mary” possibility for the Los Angeles Lakers, and rightfully so.

The Evaluation of this deal is horrible for the Toronto Raptors.

It’s a rumor suggesting the Raptors take as compensation a 29-year-old guard who hasn’t played a full season in six years in Avery Bradley. The last time he has played 70 or more games in a season was 2015/16.

It also expects the Toronto Raptors to re-employ Danny Green, who is now making 15 million dollars two years removed from helping the Raptors win the NBA title in 2019, a playoff run when he was inconsistent. He wasn’t better in 2020 for the Lakers. Danny Green is also now 33 years-old.

At age 26 years old, Alex Caruso would be a credible back up at the point guard spot, especially if Fred VanVleet returns as Toronto’s starting point guard. He is athletic and has a career 36.2 percent three-point average.

The 28th draft pick in 2020 and a swap of 2022 first-round draft picks are egregious aspects of this proposed offer. The Raptors should be looking to shed the 1.6 million that the 29th draft pick locks them into rather than doubling that salary cap hit by selecting mediocre; long term projected talent in this 2020 Draft Class.

If the Toronto Raptors drop off in effectiveness then they would be swapping away the better pick in 2022. It’s always risky for a franchise to trade away its future.

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Finally, swapping future first-round draft picks in 2022 does not really help the Toronto Raptors who have been rumored to be interested in adding Giannis Antetokounmpo for the 2021/22 season and beyond in free agency. Even if LeBron James retires or declines in productivity by then, meaning the Los Angeles Lakers pick would be a higher first-round pick, the Toronto Raptors will want to remain competitive with veteran players in a scenario that has them securing the “Greek Freak” as their main star.

Final Thoughts

It may be a priority for the Toronto Raptors to move Kyle Lowry’s contract as Fred VanVleet also stated on the Old Man and the Three podcast that:

"“I’m only four years in, but I feel like I’m on the verge of blossoming even more with more of a lead role,”"

This statement might be the most important part of what Fred VanVleet said in that interview. It would suggest a return to the Toronto Raptors would be as the team leader, which is hard to do with Kyle Lowry still on the roster playing VanVleet’s position and being the actual team leader.

Further, if Fred VanVleet does not return in free agency, the Toronto Raptors have no point guard as of the summer of 2021.

The final consideration is what happens to the harmony the team has with Norman Powell, who had a spectacular season in 2020. Norman Powell could be the starting shooting guard if not for Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry on the Raptors’ roster. Norman Powell does have a player option in the summer of 2021 in his contract.

The what to do with Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet dilemma is a concern for Bobby Webster and Masai Ujiri to resolve. Still, a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers proposed in the Bleacher Report is not reasonable in any way for the Toronto Raptors.

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