Top 10 Free Agents the Toronto Raptors Should Chase in 2021

Number 3

Kyle Lowry

The heart of the franchise and perhaps its best all-time player will be a part of the upcoming free-agent crop. He will be an unrestricted player at age 35.

It’s hard to imagine Lowry suiting up for any other team at this point in his career. The six-time All-Star is all over the Raptors record books. He has played the second-most games behind only DeRozan and has the third most points behind DeRozan and Chris Bosh. Lowry leads many team statistical categories such as assists, steals, and three-point field goals. He even has the most triple-doubles as a member of the Raptors.

Lowry is beloved by the city, its fans, and his teammates. His passion on the court cannot be matched. He doesn’t take a possession off and fights tirelessly to win every game. He’s also shown his courage and heart as he puts his body on the line to try and draw fouls and do whatever he can to win a ballgame.

There’s no doubt that at his age, Lowry has and will continue to slow down. There’s no reason to believe that it means there’s any less fight in this man. If he wants to remain in Toronto, he should be given that opportunity. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’d hold the same role fans are used to watching number seven play. It could mean that Lowry returns to add hustle and grit as a part of an uptempo bench unit.

The question will be whether Lowry wants to remain with the franchise. He has nothing left to prove and may just want to return home to play in front of his friends and family in Philadelphia. His veteran leadership makes him an additional coach to any squad he joins. It’s just one more reason that the point guard is such a valuable player.

Hopefully, the two parties find some kind of mutual agreement and Lowry remains in Toronto until the day he retires. At that time, he could then transition into the team’s front office and get a desk with a corner window view.