The Raptors guard, Kyle Lowry, is the biggest name to watch for as the switching deadline approaches.
Or not.
Michael Grange from Sportsnet:
Lowry will not be traded before the March 25 deadline.
What on reports Lowry prefers an exchange to the 76ers and told people that he is convinced that Toronto will exchange it? Lowry and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, denied this.
Of course, the Raptors control whether they trade Lowry. Your wishes and predictions matter only as much as the team wants them to matter.
But Grange’s reliable report says Toronto will keep Lowry.
Presumably, the Raptors’ decision came only after a thorough assessment of the market. Lowry will turn 35 on the day of the negotiation deadline and is in the last year of his contract. Toronto has limited its advantage this season. It was worth at least considering an exchange.
There is also value in keeping Lowry. The Raptors are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and can fight in the playoffs. In addition to his production, Lowry brings a very real sentimental value.
If he stays with Lowry, Toronto will face a dilemma in this off-season. Lowry will be an unrestricted free agent for 35 years. He is not ashamed of pushing for a high salary (nor should it be). The Raptors have already invested in Fred VanVleet from their future owner.
A lot can change in the next two weeks. Maybe Toronto will fall in the standings. Perhaps another team will improve its commercial offering for Lowry more than expected.
But it could be a completely reasonable conclusion for the Raptors to just keep Lowry and deal with the complications this summer. At the very least, it would be a welcome result for everyone who likes the identity that Lowry and Toronto have created together and want it to last a little longer.