Toronto Raptors: Evaluating trade value before the deadline
By Kyle Craib
Kyle Lowry
Contract: $33.3M (2020/21)
Trade Value: A-
It’s not often that you find a guard over 30 years old that still keeps giving you more each season. Kyle Lowry is that guard. During the injury troubles that the Raptors went through, Lowry stepped up and helped keep the team afloat. In that stretch, Lowry earned himself Eastern Conference Player of the Week while carrying the team to a 4-0 record while averaging 24.5 points, 10 assists, and 6.5 rebounds.
Over the season, Lowry has found his stroke from 3-point range, reassuring doubts about his shooting early in the year. Despite having his lowest 3-point percentage in the past 10 seasons, Lowry is finding other ways to contribute on offense even when his shot isn’t falling. Along with his nearly 20 points per game, “North Philly’s Finest” has been averaging 7.3 assists per game with the ability to draw defenders and open up the court for shooters around him.
Lowry, however, is the life-blood of the Raptors offensive schemes. Even with his trade value exceedingly expectations, a ton of chemistry and cohesion especially between the starting unit will be compromised. Along with this, the hefty $33.3 million contract Lowry has attached to him until 2021 is not very enticing for many teams.
But then again, Masai is no stranger to shaking things up.