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Toronto Raptors: DeRozan and Lowry are in the money

By Paul Taylor

TORONTO, ON - MAY 15: DeMar DeRozan #10 and Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors celebrate late in the second half of Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Miami Heat during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on May 15, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 15: DeMar DeRozan #10 and Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors celebrate late in the second half of Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Miami Heat during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on May 15, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Forbes released details of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes, with Toronto Raptors All-Star duo DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry both making the list.

We knew DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry were both well-paid. Now, we have a gauge of exactly how well the Toronto Raptors duo are doing.

On Wednesday, Forbes released their list of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes. DeRozan and Lowry were both included; in fact, they were the only two Toronto-based professional athletes featured on the list.

DeRozan came in at number 39, with a total earnings of $33 million. This was made up of $27.5 million in salary and bonuses, while the other $5.5 million came from endorsements.

As for Lowry, he took 48th place in the top 100, with a total of $30.5 million. This included $29 million in salary/bonuses and $1.5 million in endorsements.

Unsurprisingly, LeBron James led the way among NBA players on the list. He ranked sixth, with a total earnings of $85.5 million.

There were 11 NBA players placed ahead of DeRozan in the top 100, with another five between him and Lowry. In total, 40 basketball players qualified for the list, which was headed by boxing’s Floyd Mayweather with $285 million in total earnings.

DeRozan has two seasons left on his current contract, with an additional player option for the 2020-21 campaign. Lowry also has two years left on his deal, before becoming an unrestricted free agent after the conclusion of the 2019-20 season.

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The question is, will both players remain in Toronto for the duration of their respective contracts? Despite a franchise-best regular season, further failure in the playoffs has cast a shadow over the duo’s ability to lead the team to the promised land.

In addition, while MLSE have shown their willingness to spend money and create a winner, there are luxury tax concerns. As The Athletic‘s Eric Koreen notes, the Raptors will struggle to find the right balance between getting under the tax threshold and remaining competitive.

In theory, DeRozan and Lowry are two of the last players the Raptors should want to get rid of. However, the former’s repeated playoff failures and the latter’s age mean discussions will be had, both internally and with other teams.

It’s going to be an interesting few months for the Toronto Raptors, as they look to build for an even better future. Whether this future includes both DeRozan and Lowry, remains to be seen.

Next: Raptors leave regret behind to concentrate on future

What does the future hold for DeRozan and Lowry? Do you see them both returning to the Toronto Raptors next season? And if not, who do you think is more likely to be traded? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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