The Toronto Raptors must figure out where they stand with Kyle Lowry before they can really kick free agency off properly this year, as Lowry could play for a team in the States for the first time in almost a decade. Despite the fact Lowry just turned 35, his 17.3 points per game last season goes to show that he still has bushels of quality at his disposal.
Lowry has been linked to both the Miami Heat, as he and Jimmy Butler are very good friends, and the Philadelphia 76ers, his hometown team, amid rumors he is done in Canada.
With a younger team and Fred VanVleet ready to take over, there is a possibility that the Raptors, in possession of seventh-best lottery odds, use this as a chance to allow Lowry to ring-chase elsewhere are they attempt to build for the future. If they want him back, Lowry made it clear what they must do.
Lowry, after thanking the fans and the city of Toronto for what it has meant to him, claims that “money talks and years talk”, hinting that he is eyeing a long-term contract.
Lowry says his family will be a huge part of his free agency decision but "money talks and years talk, let's be real."
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) May 18, 2021
Lowry did also say that he wants to join a team that can help him win championships, which might not include Toronto at this juncture.
"I want more championships."
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) May 18, 2021
Will Kyle Lowry return to the Toronto Raptors?
The Raptors will be much improved next year, but the stratification of the East will likely mean that the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat will lead the title charge out of this conference. Making the playoffs is a realistic goal, but a championship might be tough to come across.
If Lowry is interested in years and money, Toronto can certainly provide that for him. They might need to make some sacrifices elsewhere on the roster, but Lowry has continued to prove his quality with the Raptors over the last few seasons.
Masai Ujiri, who was available after Lowry, said that despite growing optimism that he will re-sign in Toronto, Lowry’s decision will be a big factor when it comes to him potentially coming back to Toronto. Losing both of them in one swoop could be completely destabilizing for the Raptors.
Losing Lowry would be a tough pill to swallow, but losing him to a contender in the East because of Toronto’s inability to provide Lowry with enough cash to sate his appetite would be killer. Still, Lowry has laid out exactly what it will take to bring him back, and it is up to Toronto to decide what they want to do next.