As expected the Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry will opt out of the final year of his contract to test the free agent waters next summer.
Even though Lowry’s preference would be to remain in Toronto, he knows he will command a heavy price in this market.
“I think it should be a situation where a guy shouldn’t have to talk to another team,” Lowry said. “DeMar (DeRozan) didn’t have the chance to talk to another team … For me, I think that at 12:01 a.m. on July 1 – something should be close. If not, I’m open to seeing what else is out there.”
It will cost the max to keep Lowry. Both he and the Raptors are well aware, but Lowry is in an integral piece to the Raptors success. Without him, there would be no playoff appearances and no revamped image. Letting Lowry walk would be like letting go of the most successful era in Raptors history.
“Kyle has been at the forefront of the Raptor movement,” general manager Masai Ujiri told The Vertical. “How he goes, we go. He has helped establish a culture that will grow even more. We really appreciate that. He is a winner, and we want to win.”
