Despite their closeness, Demar Derozan will not convince teammate Kyle Lowry to stay with the Toronto Raptors, saying he has to make the right decision for himself and his family. DeRozan told Sports Illustrated that he’ll stay out of Lowry’s decision-making process, whether he signs with the Raptors or with another team. “No matter how close we are, I never fool with that part of it. When you have a family and that dynamic comes into play, you have to do what’s best for you,” said DeRozan.
DeRozan said he will support Lowry no matter his decision, emphasizing that “he has to be able to live with whatever decision he makes." Aside from the Raptors, Lowry is being eyed by the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Raptors president Masai Ujiri is confident that Lowry will stay with the team and continue his drive to give Toronto its first NBA title.
Lowry not planning to join 76ers
Earlier, it was reported that Lowry planned to join the 76ers, who are looking for veteran leadership. However, his plans did not come to fruition as the 76ers traded for the No. 1 overall pick and took point guard Markelle Fultz. With Fultz’s arrival, the 76ers will have no need for a starting guard, unless the 31-year-old Lowry accepts a role off the bench or shares playing time with the rookie.
Lowry opted out of the final year of the four-year, $48 million deal that he signed with the Raptors to test the free agent market.
He can demand a five-year deal with a maximum salary in excess of $200 million while other teams can offer him a four-year deal. The point guard emerged as an All-Star and one of the best playmakers in the Eastern Conference. Last season, Lowry averaged 22.4 points in 60 regular-season games but struggled in the playoffs, scoring just 15.8 points in eight postseason outings.
Timberwolves interested in Lowry
Outside of Ricky Rubio, the Wolves are thin in the point guard spot after trading Kris Dunn and Zach Lavine to the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Butler. Lowry might be encouraged to join a promising team that includes Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Rubio. On paper, the Wolves look ready to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Initially, the Spurs were eyeing Chris Paul but they were beaten to the punch by the Houston Rockets, who acquired the veteran point guard via trade. With Paul now off the market, the Spurs want to pursue Lowry as replacement for the injured Tony Parker.
