Grange: Lowry was sitting out till the extension

[MegiMK]

So Grange publishes his "essay" after the extension is signed and what he presents as a fact is no longer an option and can't be proven as a hoax. Convenient timing.

[Courtside]

Lowry is actually a bigger asset now because he's a giant expiring contract that ends when everyone wants cap space. No one cares about cap space next summer so Kyle's value even as an expiring was likely limited. Now with an extra year, even if his performance dips, he's going to be a bigger asset.

Of course, the Raptors have no reason to trade him because they will want cap space as well (Giannis!!!!!). But I think people who thought he'd be a huge asset now or at the deadline were fooling themselves. Teams do not care about cap space in 2020. They want it in 2021.

This was most likely why the extension was made in the first place. The Raptors don't have to sit and wait for free agency - they can trade for someone who a team wants to get rid of, but works in the Raptors plans. This is just a genius move by Masai all around.

Both sides wanted to get a deal done, and they did.

People are forgetting that FVV is a free agent next offseason as well, and since his deal was just two years it means an early extension isn't possible. The team would put itself in a really terrible position to have both their main PGs looking for big new contracts in a summer when the team has major money to spend. Their agents would play the threat of the other leaving as a reason to overpay, for the security of the team.

So this doesn't just lock up Kyle for one year instead of several, it also mitigates the threat of seeing Fred walk next summer, as he is going to get big offers fr other teams, and it also insures against the remote chance that both PGs chase bigger deals elsewhere and we're left with neither.

Kyle and his agent knew this and got themselves a very rich one year deal, which is entirely smart of them and entirely smart of Masai to secure when considering the alternatives noted above.

It's also rich enough that Kyle would likely expect a lesser amount the following 2021 summer - a bigger drop than the CBA will allow in a multi year deal - so this also allows us to renounce Kyle entirely to remove his huge cap hold. This opens max possible capspace to spend on FAs and then sign Kyle back at a reduced amount with full freedom.

The need for some people to paint Kyle as this malcontent worthy of perpetual scorn is really sad. We know he's a mercurial sorta dude and things didn't always go smoothly, but he's never done anything worthy of becoming some villain or getting the smear treatment from a couple of the same members of the media. I would totally put Grange in his place if I was him.

[SFour]

So Grange publishes his "essay" after the extension is signed and what he presents as a fact is no longer an option and can't be proven as a hoax. Convenient timing.

and Lowry is still sitting out next pre-season game in Japan despite signing the extension...it doesn't add up.

[Wo1verine]

Grange is a lair.

[SHFT]

I hate to make general statements like this especially about our own fan base but Im convinced that if you dont like Kyle Lowry (especially at this point) youre not a REAL fan and / or you dont understand basketball beyond an NBA2K level. And Im not saying he has never deserved criticism but its all very relative and its very give and take. Look at how many players finally get paid and then mail it in. Look at how many players cause chemistry issues. Look at how many players put themselves over the team when on the court.

"B-b-b-but Kyle threw a hissy fit"

STFU and FOH. If it ever impacted his play on the court even slightly I wouldnt say any of this but Kyle literally takes out his heart, and puts it on the line for this team, this city and this country. We all wanted Kawhi back yes? Kyle has gone on record and said he made it his job to try and make Kawhi as comfortable as possible without actually whispering in his ear (what a genuinely good person does).

Some of y'all are spoiled af with these last 6 years.

[MegiMK]

So Grange publishes his "essay" after the extension is signed and what he presents as a fact is no longer an option and can't be proven as a hoax. Convenient timing.

and Lowry is still sitting out next pre-season game in Japan despite signing the extension...it doesn't add up.

Exactly. None of this makes any sense.

[And1+2]

Lowry was sitting out because he is recovering from thumb surgery.

[mowcrowbar]

Lowry decided to finally play his leverages, eh?