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Toronto Raptors: Trade possibilities for Kyle Lowry

By Thomas Hall

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 14: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors protests a possession call against the Washington Wizards in the first quarter during Game One of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on April 14, 2018 in Toronto, 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 Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 14: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors protests a possession call against the Washington Wizards in the first quarter during Game One of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on April 14, 2018 in Toronto, 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 Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Raptors re-signed Kyle Lowry to a three-year deal last summer, but may now look to trade the four-time All-Star point guard.

Toronto Raptors’ president Masai Ujiri has made it clear no one is off-limits this summer. After getting swept by Cleveland in back-to-back seasons, it’s clear this team needs a little shake up. It all started with the firing of Dwane Casey.

Kyle Lowry and Demar DeRozan are the first names that come to mind when you think of a shake up. But, there’s a very small chance the Raptors can compete next season if they trade both of them. Toronto has more depth at point guard than they do at shooting guard, which makes Lowry the better trade candidate.

Adding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Raptors’ young core would be a great move, but what pick would Ujiri have to acquire to select him? Well, that’s the fun part. The Morning Tip has Gilgeous-Alexander going 13th overall to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers have back-to-back picks in the first round (12th and 13th). So now comes the question: Who do the Raptors have to trade to get the 13th overall pick? The headline of this article gives this away, but Lowry would be the centrepiece of the deal.

This is the package that works for both teams: Lowry and Norman Powell for Patrick Beverley, the 13th overall pick, and a 2019 second pick. Beverley would be an effective addition to the Raptors. His role would be to start at point guard until Gilgeous-Alexander was ready to take that job.

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All these rumors are making it seem more and more likely that Lowry or DeRozan will be playing elsewhere next season. The Dallas Mavericks are another team the Raptors could look to make a trade with. The Mavericks have the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft.

Here is the trade I have put together to acquire that pick: The Raptors send Lowry and Pascal Siakam to the Mavericks. The Mavericks would send Wesley Matthews, the fifth overall pick and their first-round selection in 2019.

This trade makes sense for the future of the Raptors. Not only do you save money against the salary cap, but you also get two first-round picks. Matthews is a free-agent after next season so if he doesn’t fit with this team, you’re not committed to him for more than a year.

Both these trades would improve the Raptors for both now and the future, even though this means an end to the Lowry/DeRozan era in Toronto. This team still has a chance to be competitive; they just need a little shake-up.

Next: Masai Ujiri looking to make a splash at 2018 NBA Draft

What do you think is the best trade for the Toronto Raptors? Is it time to move on from the Lowry/DeRozan era? Share your comments below.

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