Toronto Raptors: Should Kyle Lowry or Fred VanVleet move to the bench?

The Toronto Raptors welcomed Kyle Lowry back to the lineup after he missed some time due to a foot infection. With 16.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game, Lowry is providing more of the consistent production that Fred VanVleet and the Raptors need as they try to pull off an improbable run to the postseason.

However, Nick Nurse has had to completely overhaul the rotation, which allowed VanVleet or Malachi Flynn to start at point guard depending on VanVleet’s health, new acquisition Gary Trent Jr. to take over the shooting guard role, and bench players like Yuta Watanabe and DeAndre’ Bembry to take over complimentary reserve roles.

With Lowry coming back, Nurse decided to change his rotations in the most puzzling way possible. After playing 30 minutes or more in all but one game in April, Flynn played just six minutes in a loss against the New York Knicks.

Trent had been averaging 20.0 points per game in his prior six games before Lowry’s return, but he’s managed just nine in two games off the bench. Bembry was a DNP-CD.

The question has to be asked. Is Lowry starting in this lineup actually a liability, especially with the lack of guard depth on the bench behind him? Should the Raptors potentially move VanVleet to the bench if they are unwilling to let Lowry become a reserve?

Kyle Lowry might impede the Toronto Raptors’ progress

The Raptors paid VanVleet $85 million over four years, and they didn’t do that to see his scoring production capped. Likewise, they didn’t trade fan-favorite Norman Powell for Trent to have him become a seldom-used reserve. Flynn can’t play like a first-round pick if he’s only getting six minutes per game.

Lowry would, in essence, be preventing a few players who will likely be in Toronto for the next few years from getting comfortable together on the floor.

There is a case to keep playing Lowry, as he is playing excellent basketball at the moment while helping Toronto try to extend their playoff streak. Nothing about his performance has necessarily warranted a benching, even though it has thrown Nurse’s rotations out of wack.

Part of the problem is the fact that the Raptors still are unsure if they should make a charge at the playoffs. If they were eliminated, having Lowry pull an Al Horford and sit out to let younger guys get some burn wouldn’t be the worst idea.

Fred VanVleet could come off of the bench for the Toronto Raptors.

Letting VanVleet come off of the bench could be a better idea. Lowry still starts, Trent gets his minutes, and VanVleet will score as much as he wants by dominating with the second unit. The Minnesota Timberwolves are using D’Angelo Russell in a similar fashion right now, and it has helped both Russell individually and the team as a whole.

As long as VanVleet gets his minutes, putting him on the bench could give Trent the times he needs to get cooking, all the while not letting Flynn try to carry the backcourt by himself.

Anyone who claims to be a Toronto Raptors fan loves Lowry and acknowledges that he has done as much for this franchise as any player in history. However, the Raptors are very close to turning the page on the Lowry era, and they shouldn’t risk potentially undercutting long-term pieces of their core, especially when they are as close to the No. 1 pick as they are the postseason.

If Lowry and VanVleet keep starting, Flynn and Trent still need their minutes, and that’s on Nurse to work out.