Lowry: "I Love Toronto and I Want to Stay a Raptor"

[youngtea]

4 years, 40 mil would be fair value. We get him in his prime. Ten million isn't suffering anyone for a PG of his calibre. It is not like 15 mil of Turkoglu that is difficult to move. 10 million for an all-star PG? I think you are content with that. Depends on what Masai wants. Is he thinking of using Lowry as trade bait to possibly net a top 10 pick and grab Exum through a sign and trade?

If we get him for 12 mil a year for 4 years I will be happy.

[barrist]

where is this quote?

[dagger]

4 years, 40 mil would be fair value. We get him in his prime. Ten million isn't suffering anyone for a PG of his calibre. It is not like 15 mil of Turkoglu that is difficult to move. 10 million for an all-star PG? I think you are content with that. Depends on what Masai wants. Is he thinking of using Lowry as trade bait to possibly net a top 10 pick and grab Exum through a sign and trade?

If we get him for 12 mil a year for 4 years I will be happy.

I don't see the market conditions, nor do the media types that speculate on this type of thing, that would require us to pay that much. He's moving into a $9-10m range. If he doesn't make all-star, it will be because that reputation thing keeps following him around, and that's a factor in what other teams would pay, too.

In any case, here's an interesting factoid from Elias Sports via ESPN:

Kyle Lowry's 31 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five steals carried the Raptors to a 104-103 win over the Nets in Brooklyn. No other NBA player had a 30/5/5/5 (points/assists/rebounds/steals) game this season and the only three guys to do that last season were Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

Lowry became the fifth player since 1973 (when steals were first officially recorded in the NBA) with a game of that kind in a one-point win. The others were James (in 2008) and three Hall of Famers: Clyde Drexler (1988), Larry Bird (1981) and Julius Erving (1979).

[Duffman100]

Sign him up. Not everyone on the team has to be 20-24. Its nice to have his bulldog, no quit attitude. We can find a young point guard to groom underneath Lowry.

[J-Roc]

If Kyle Lowry makes the all star team, he'll be on a level like so few Raps have ever been, and he'll want to be paid like it. Heck, even if he doesn't make the team, but he plays like our MVP, he'll want to be paid for it.

Our best hope is that this team is so good it makes sense to retain what we have, for more money.

[Steelo Green]

4 years, 40 mil would be fair value. We get him in his prime. Ten million isn't suffering anyone for a PG of his calibre. It is not like 15 mil of Turkoglu that is difficult to move. 10 million for an all-star PG? I think you are content with that. Depends on what Masai wants. Is he thinking of using Lowry as trade bait to possibly net a top 10 pick and grab Exum through a sign and trade?

If we get him for 12 mil a year for 4 years I will be happy.

Again a lot is hinging on question marks. What is he looking for in an offer? What does Masai want to do? Are there any other takers? Does a team which is cap heavy want him but need a S&T to get it done and if so what are they offering?

Masai can take this many ways. Obviously if no other team wants him via S&T to me, you have to re-sign him. To lose him for nothing would be devastating. You lose an all-star PG, and the heart of the team. Like I have said time and time again, defence wins games, and this team is built on that foundation. We have become so negative and jaded we forget we have an extremely young core that are only improving and want to be here.

Think about it, good players who have been in Toronto, Damon, T-Mac, Vince, Camby, Bosh. They left. They didn't want to stay. This group wants to stay and for once we can see what your young draft picks can do with one another. Toronto has 3 top 10 draft picks in its starting 5. The cap space they could have could potentially have them get that post 4 who will take them to the next level as well as a few cogs here and there. How deadly is that team? Two fantastic 3 point threats (Lowry, Ross), a floor general (Lowry), a slasher who can get to the line almost at will and who's mid-range has become very good (Demar), a centre learning the game day by day and is a double double threat nightly (Val), and a post presence who can just hammer his way inside with a back to the basket game. What is our offence missing? Yes we don't have Durant or Lebron, but only 2 teams in the league do and we really have no idea what the ping pong balls would hold for us. The draft is a question mark. The once in a lifetime talent of Wiggins is as days go by starting to fall from god like status.

Lebron when he was drafted it was known this guy was a once in a generation talent. This draft doesn't have that. People forget Harrison Barnes? He was touted just as Wiggins was and didn't even go in the top 5 in the draft. Not saying Wiggins won't be a top 5 pick but this draft has been overrated for superstar potential. Lots of stars there, but superstar? I don't know.

[Courtside]

Wow, never thought he would say that. Nonetheless sign him only if the price is right.

The right price is determined by market. He WILL be offered at LEAST 4 yrs / 40 Mil by 8-10 teams if he gets to free agency and is still unsigned.

While I agree with the first sentence, the second one is way off. Go through the 29 other teams and see if you can name even 3 teams that will offer him 4/40, and offer it at the beginning of free agency and not after they've lost out on other FAs. Go.

[dagger]

bring him back on a 3 year deal, let him go when he's 30. i'm good with that.

Not going to happen. He will want security, as ANY player would at this stage. He will get offers of 4-6 years. If you lowball at 3, you lose him.

There is no such thing as six years any more. We can offer maximum of five, other teams four.

[changes]

[Courtside]

Man, just sign the **** guy. He's a great player and he's 27. Not rocket science here. So sick of this tank/treadmill/whatever plan people keep wanting to talk about.

They can't sign him now. I mean they could extend him, but there is CBA guidelines as to how much of a raise he can get with an in-season extension an it's well below his market value. He and the team HAVE to wait until the offseason to get a new deal done.

Plus, doing it in the offseason doesn't tip our hand to other teams. Let them guess and make plans of their own, without our help in leaving a player on/off the market. Let the Lakers target him and then miss out when he stays, for example.

[dagger]

People forget Harrison Barnes? He was touted just as Wiggins was and didn't even go in the top 5 in the draft. Not saying Wiggins won't be a top 5 pick but this draft has been overrated for superstar potential. Lots of stars there, but superstar? I don't know.

Marcus Thompson, who is columnist for the San Jose Merucry-News, and follows the Warriors closely, had this pretty strong critique of Barnes yesterday, basically calling him a tweener who excels when everyone around him - Curry, Thompson, Lee - are going well and drawing coverage, but can't handle coming off the bench. Basically, Thompson begs the fans to be patient with Barnes because he's going to build out his game over time.

http://www.mercurynews.com/marcus-thomp ... ors-barnes

This only highlights the primary truth about Barnes: He's a 'tweener. He can dominate situationally, but he can also be negated. And until he grows as a player, that will remain true.

NBA small forwards, on good teams, are usually either offensive creators (LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Paul George) or defensive stoppers who can spot up (Luol Deng, Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum). Barnes doesn't fit into either category decisively.

His skill set dips into both, which makes him such a promising talent. But he can't handle the ball well enough yet to consistently create his own shot, which is why he struggles to be productive without a clear advantage in size or quickness. Nor is he a defensive stopper, though he's good at chasing around smaller guards.

[DWiz]

When his contract is done he'll be 32. Thats when Nash started peaking.
Hes been the best leader ive ever seen suit up a raptors uni other than Alvin Williams.

[MEDIC]

Thanks for posting.

All the "we can't re-sign Lowry" narratives can die off now.

[Patman]

Man, just sign the **** guy. He's a great player and he's 27. Not rocket science here. So sick of this tank/treadmill/whatever plan people keep wanting to talk about.

Good player is good. Not old either. Sign player.

I'm for (re)signing players at the right price. I wouldn't want to pay an average player like a good player, so I'm not for paying a very good player like a superstar either.

[CoachD]

Smokescreen.

BRILLIANT insight!
I can see why they made you a leader around here!

[Strategist1]

Sometimes you have to gamble. Just get a feel for the situation and if you like the odds, go gamble.

Right now, playoff experience would benefit the whole team. A little taste of it can benefit the whole team... even if Lowry walks. Worst case scenario... Lowry walks... leaving us room to sign someone else. Not too bad.

I'd say gamble on Lowry resigning.

[northernpuppy]

Smokescreen.

The Ultimate Smokescreen
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Ajom97JsA[/youtube]

[youngtea]

4 years, 40 mil would be fair value. We get him in his prime. Ten million isn't suffering anyone for a PG of his calibre. It is not like 15 mil of Turkoglu that is difficult to move. 10 million for an all-star PG? I think you are content with that. Depends on what Masai wants. Is he thinking of using Lowry as trade bait to possibly net a top 10 pick and grab Exum through a sign and trade?

If we get him for 12 mil a year for 4 years I will be happy.

I don't see the market conditions, nor do the media types that speculate on this type of thing, that would require us to pay that much. He's moving into a $9-10m range. If he doesn't make all-star, it will be because that reputation thing keeps following him around, and that's a factor in what other teams would pay, too.

In any case, here's an interesting factoid from Elias Sports via ESPN:

Kyle Lowry's 31 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five steals carried the Raptors to a 104-103 win over the Nets in Brooklyn. No other NBA player had a 30/5/5/5 (points/assists/rebounds/steals) game this season and the only three guys to do that last season were Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

Lowry became the fifth player since 1973 (when steals were first officially recorded in the NBA) with a game of that kind in a one-point win. The others were James (in 2008) and three Hall of Famers: Clyde Drexler (1988), Larry Bird (1981) and Julius Erving (1979).

This off season there are only going to be a few available players on the market. He will get at least 12 mil a year either from us or another team. Look at Amir Johnson, Demar and Bargnani contracts for reference. Obviously he is useful for sure more then 2 of those 3 guys. Demar and Lowry are at the same level.

[Badonkadonk]

"Man, getting a chance to play for Philly, it's a dream come true. I'm just blessed. I'll always have love for Toronto, though. You know, they gave me a chance. I made friends for life there. And those fans deserve a championship."

MCW + youth movement = no chance.

Lowry isn't going back to being a backup and I don't see Philly giving the reigns to a 28 year old given they won't be ready to be good for a few years.

[ReggieSlater]

Honestly, he's the best PG this franchise has ever had. If we do lose him and decide to move into the toilet, I won't be all together upset about the direction, but I will be upset about losing this dude and not being able to see him play every game. I think where ever he goes I will continue to be a fan.