Following the Raptors’ 2019 NBA Championship, Kyle Lowry reportedly threatened to hold out and claim a trade if Toronto did not give him a contract extension.
Lowry – who has received the expansion – clearly has limited willingness to put sentimentality above financial security. The expansion will end this summer, and Lowry and the Raptors will have to decide on his future again.
The process reaches a turning point with Thursday’s deadline.
The Heat and 76ers are interested in Lowry. Toronto clearly has an interest in retaining him. But Lowry’s expiration contract creates a complicated situation – unless he assures a team he will sign again, which means he has to understand how much they will offer.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN:
I spoke to a GM this morning, and he basically described it this way: Kyle Lowry’s free agency is currently taking place. Kyle Lowry is expected to have a new contract by the end of this week. It’s going to be either staying in Toronto – whether it’s signed, or there’s an understanding it’s going to happen – it’s going to be Miami, or it’s going to be Philadelphia.
This will not be a literal new contract. Because his previous extension was only one year, Lowry is not eligible for another contract extension. He will be an unrestricted free agent during the season.
But whatever team ends the season with Lowry will have his bird rights and a chance to score him.
So, teams interested in Lowry – Toronto, Miami and Philadelphia – want an idea of his salary demands before they trade. These types of conversations are not uncommon, especially since the birds of prey seem to want to get by Lowry. This may be Lowry’s last chance to draft himself for a big contract.
Toronto already has Lowry, and he will probably not return if he is traded. (The Raptors, or technically any team that concludes the season with Lowry, may also wait to sign and swap him.) The Heat may have some leeway to sign Lowry as an outside player this summer, but they can use him too. for the stretch run this year and it would be easier to sign him with his Bird Rights. The 76ers really got the best spot to want both Lowry for the playoff game in 2021, and as an expensive team he needs his bird rights to score him this season.
Lowry is a tough player to appreciate. He is very good. He also started taking off and turns 35 on Thursday.
But if Lowry and a team agree on his next contract – again just in principle – it would at least give those involved clarity on at least the matter.