Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry Firmly Focused on This Season
By Paul Taylor
Questions have already started about Kyle Lowry and his future with the Toronto Raptors, but the two-time All-Star insists he’s concentrating on the current season.
The Toronto Raptors finished the first half of the 2016-17 regular season with a record of 28-13, their best ever start through 41 games. And while they’ve since lost two straight to inferior opponents, Dwane Casey’s team is well on course to make the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year.
However, despite being in the midst of another successful campaign, human nature dictates that some thought is always being given to the future. One of the most pressing issues surrounds Kyle Lowry and his contract situation.
The upcoming off-season will be an extremely important one for Lowry, who is currently in the third year of a four-year, $48 million contact. What makes his situation interesting, is the fact his deal includes an early termination clause.
The overriding sentiment is that the 30-year will decline his player option for the 2017-18 season and test the free agency market. The likelihood is the next contract will be the last major one of his NBA career.
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Along those lines, some people question if teams will be prepared to offer a significant amount of money to a player, who will turn 31 in March. However, keep in mind Lowry is still an extremely productive player.
In fact, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native is having arguably his best season yet in the NBA. As things stand, he is on course to set career-highs for average points per-game and three-point field goal percentage.
In addition, Lowry is on target for the second-best overall shooting percentage of his career, while adding just under seven assists and five rebounds a game. In reality, you know at least one team will offer him a major payday.
Raptors’ fans will be quietly confident the 2006 24th overall draft pick will re-sign with their team, and previous speculation has alluded to this. However, this is of no immediate concern to him, as he concentrates on the current season.
Speaking recently to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN, Lowry was asked if his first option was to stay in Toronto: “When the time comes, then I will worry about it. It definitely will be an option.
“It’s definitely home. I have been given the keys to it, (and it’s where) I have been most successful.”
No doubt this will be music to the ears of the local fan base. Again though, the two-time All-Star went on to stress it is not at the forefront of his thoughts right now.
Lowry said: “When that time comes, I’ll think about it. (However), for now I just want to keep winning and try to get to that next level and take it game by game and day by day.”
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In that respect, the Raptors came closer than ever to finally reaching the summit last season, taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to six games in the Eastern Conference finals. Further, the former Memphis Grizzlies’ draft pick is confident the team will be better-prepared when playoff time once again comes around.
Lowry said: “We are a different team, we understand what we are going to do. We don’t just rely on our offense, our defense will have to do some things.
“We are all just more experienced. I think that is the one thing we can all say we have gotten better at.”
Finally, even though the 2016 Olympic Gold medalist said he is focused on the current campaign, Youngmisuk once again approached the subject of his future. More specifically, he asked what the point guard’s dream scenario was for the summer.
Lowry said: “Just to make sure it is the right situation…that is all that matters to me. Winning and making sure everyone is happy, I’m happy and making sure my family is happy.”
Next: Raptors' Mid-Season Awards
What’s your take on Lowry’s contract situation with the Raptors? Do you firmly believe he will still be in Toronto next season, or are you at all concerned he will be plying his trade elsewhere? Share your thoughts in the comments section.