One intriguing storyline floating around the dark-web of NBA trade rumors is the possibility of reuniting Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry and former Raptor DeMar DeRozan.
For those of you looking to break out your #10 jersey again. This rumor doesn’t have DeMar DeRozan returning to the Toronto Raptors, but instead has Kyle Lowry moving to the San Antonio Spurs.
Before the Raptors actually won an NBA Championship, their best chance of ever doing so was with the tandem of DeRozan and Lowry. Not only were these two a dynamic-duo on the court, but off the court, they were BFF’s. It was clear how much they cared about each other and how badly they wanted to win together in Toronto.
They took a team that was struggling and reshaped the franchise. In fact, if it wasn’t for Lowry, who knows if DeRozan would have ended up signing a massive extension to stay in the Six. The duo had unfinished business when DeRozan re-upped in July 2016 saying that: “I am Toronto.”
Unfortunately, DeRozan and Lowry failed in the playoffs and as a result, he was shipped to San Antonio for Kawai Leonard and Danny Green. At the time, the trade not only devastated many fans, but it also hurt Lowry.
Kyle Lowry really felt that DeRozan trade. (via @Rachel__Nichols) pic.twitter.com/9s5vwM10dq
— ESPN (@espn) December 5, 2018
The bond that Lowry and DeRozan had was bigger than the sport. As a professional basketball player, winning an NBA championship is everything, but some things are bigger than basketball.
"“When you meet certain people in this world and you’re brought together by basketball, you don’t have a certain reason on why this or that. It just happens. It is what it is. You can talk about anything, you can watch TV, you can not talk and still be on the same page. You got family, you got kids, all types of things that all go into that. It just brings together a bond,” said Lowry in an interview with The Canadian Press."
Although the DeRozan trade helped Lowry win an NBA Championship and enshrine him as the greatest Toronto Raptor of all-time, he may be intrigued by a reunion with this best pal, DeRozan.
Could The Toronto Raptors and Spurs Make Another Trade?
Here’s the rumored trade from JB Baruelo of The Inquisitr:
- Toronto Raptors receive: LaMarcus Aldridge, Derrick White, 2021 second-round pick, and 2023 second-round pick.
- San Antonio Spurs receive: Kyle Lowry
That’s a pretty big haul for Aldridge and my first instinct is to accept this trade right away if you’re Toronto. After selecting Andrea Bargnani one spot ahead of Aldridge in the 2006 NBA Draft, the Raptors could redeem themselves by trading for him. I know that he’s not the same player he once was with the Portland Trail Blazers, but he still has a lot to offer.
At 35-years-old, the Raptors could benefit from Aldridge as a mentor to Siakam. After the departure of Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, the team doesn’t have any All-Star big-men that Siakam can turn to. Although he’s a $130M man, having a veteran to help him for another year would be tremendous for his growth.
Obviously this trade would downgrade the backcourt, but Fred VanVleet should be ready to take a huge step next season. Now that he’s signed a monster-extension, it’s time for him to prove he’s worth all of that money and can lead the offense.
If the Toronto Raptors were ever to trade Lowry, it would be nice to see him reunite with DeRozan. We’d all love to see Lowry retire as a Raptor, but money will be tight during the 2021 Free Agency if the team is looking to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo. Therefore, you may as well make Lowry happy by helping him reunite with his BFF if he can’t stay in Toronto.
Who knows if this trade rumor has any truth to it, but it’s fun to talk about. Masai Ujiri is no stranger to making a big splash, so it wouldn’t shock me if it came to life.