Toronto Raptors: Why James Harden going to the Nets is a good thing

The Toronto Raptors have to consider themselves lucky that Harden went to the Nets and not Philly.

If you were on Twitter when this whole Harden saga was unraveling, chances are you weren’t thinking about the Toronto Raptors. And if you were one of the few folks out there who were, then that is most likely because of the Philadelphia native, Kyle Lowry.

If ever the President Masai Ujiri and General Manager Bobby Webster were to accept the fact that it is best to part ways with the best Raptors’ player of all time, there’s no team need who should want him more than the Philadelphia 76ers.

Now that the 76ers have struck out on James Harden with Ben Simmons being the centerpiece of any potential deal, that means that Simmons isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The 76ers have to go back to getting pieces that they needed all too much last season; a secondary ball-handler and playmaker for Simmons to play off of.

If you’re the 76ers and are looking around the league, no player fits those needs better than Kyle Lowry. We know just how impactful Kyle Lowry is, he was the second/third-best player on a championship team; he has led the Toronto Raptors to the top 3 seed in the East for five years straight; and most importantly, he will do anything in his power to win.

He’d fit right into the 76ers lineup (taking Curry’s spot), and provide them with all they need. He’d provide them with the perfect veteran presence while also playing at his usual All-NBA level.

It’s going to hurt, but you want to give Lowry the best chance possible to win

As appalling as the idea of Kyle Lowry in another jersey is (we still try to forget he played for the Grizzlies and Rockets before coming to Toronto) seeing him get a real chance at a championship again would bring us real joy. After everything Lowry has done for the Raptors, the least they can do is trade him to a contending team.

Unless the Raptors suddenly start winning numerous games or make a sudden move for a superstar, there should be no reason Lowry is not traded. Settling for mediocrity has never been a plan for Ujiri, and we can all assume that isn’t something he’s keen on doing anytime soon.

In the end, it’s a win-win scenario. Lowry gets another shot at a title in his hometown and the Raptors get the assets (Tyrese Maxey please) they need to contend again in the future.