Kyle Lowry Watch 2021: He's Staying in Toronto
After all of that, he’s not leaving:
The Raptors are keeping Kyle Lowry, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
Amazing. He’s gonna stay in Toronto.
This is a net win for the Sixers, post-George Hill trade, who are going to avoid seeing a Heat or Lakers team with Kyle Lowry. Barring a buyout, he’ll play the rest of the season with the middling Raptors and then become a free agent.
However, there’s this:
Sources: Houston traded Victor Oladipo to Miami for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and a draft swap.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2021
That’s very little for Oladipo. Must be concerns about the injuries, because Houston didn’t get very much in return. That’s a great bit of business for Miami, and makes you wonder if the Sixers could have gotten in on it. It’s hard to say glean much about the current status of Daryl Morey and Tilman Fertitta’s relationship.
Another Sixers nugget involves JJ Redick, who will not be on the buyout market. He’s going to Dallas:
The New Orleans Pelicans are close on a deal to send JJ Redick to the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2021
That at least keeps him away from the Nets, if that was a concern of yours.
Circling back to Lowry, it would seem as though the asking price was just too high. The Sixers, I was told, like their team, and didn’t feel the need to go crazy with a blockbuster deadline move. So they added George Hill as a veteran backup ball handler, and the most interesting thing now is to see how they approach the center position in the interim. With Joel Embiid out, and Tony Bradley and Vincent Poirier gone, tonight they’ll have to rely on Dwight Howard and some small ball Ben Simmons at the five, as they take on a depleted Lakers squad.
For Lowry himself, maybe he’s disappointed not to be moved to a winner, but perhaps he can finish his career with the Raptors if he’d like to do that. We’ll learn more from all parties soon enough.
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Update here:
In the end, Masai Ujiri didn't find a package that compelled him to trade Kyle Lowry — and Lowry had always been fine with completing the season with the Raptors, sources tell ESPN. Now, Lowry can head to free agency in the summer. https://t.co/JOoY9WMKNf
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021