Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry was one of the biggest names who were supposed to be on a different team on Thursday. But as time ran out in the NBA’s negotiating deadline, he was surprisingly still a member of the Raptors.
Shortly after the negotiation deadline expired, Raptors’ basketball operations president Masai Ujiri addressed the events that led to the decision to keep Lowry, despite many offers at the table (via Josh Lewenberg of TSN SPorts)
Masai Ujiri: “You wanted that parting story (from Lowry), huh? Sorry, you will have to postpone this.”
– Josh Lewenberg (@ JLew1050) March 25, 2021
Ujiri admitted that he was surprised that no one had met the price asked by Lowry. “To be honest, I saw you as someone who could go and put a stamp on what you’re trying to do this year. I lived it, I saw it “
– Josh Lewenberg (@ JLew1050) March 25, 2021
One of the biggest stories surrounding Lowry’s possible trade was that the Raptors were asking for an absurd price for their services. The former NBA champion received a lot of interest from several competitors, especially the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat.
Ujiri’s preferred returns to Lowry, however, seemed unattainable, as they wanted a mix of young players and a series of choices in the first round. For example, the Raptors allegedly wanted to buy Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, negotiate the first round choices of 2021 and 2023 and this year’s 2023 choice of the Sixers for Lowry.
The Sixers understandably did not bite, while the Lakers and Heat could not afford the heavy asking price.
Ujiri explained that it was not the Raptors’ intention to put an absurd price on Lowry, and they were simply doing justice to his value to the team.
Ujiri in the Lowry market: “We are going to be biased, you are always with your players, but for Kyle we are extremely, extremely biased because of what he does and what he represents … If I valued him a lot, hey, it is what I believe in. “
– Josh Lewenberg (@ JLew1050) March 25, 2021
Ujiri added that he could easily have sent Lowry to a losing team with many future assets to give, but he restricted his search to competitors, as they wanted to give the 35-year-old the chance to win his second NBA title.
Masai adds that if they were to do something, they would do it right for Lowry, which limited the number of teams they spoke to. “That is the respect we have for him. We have come a long way and I think we owe him that respect as a player and as a person.”
– Josh Lewenberg (@ JLew1050) March 25, 2021
Kyle Lowry stays with the Raptors. At least for the rest of the season.
