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

[Wo1verine]

I am glad he likes Toronto, but i still don't want him long-term with us being a .500 team.

[SaveTheHens]

This is a situation where the playoffs are a major factor in helping us retain an asset. If we make the playoffs and do well enough to get into the second round, I feel Lowry would readily re-sign with us & maybe even choose us over teams offering more. If we get ousted in the first round there's a good chance that may leave a negative feeling on Lowry & he'd be more open to leaving

[TheGoodDoctor]

I am glad he likes Toronto, but i still don't want him long-term with us being a .500 team.

The only way I don't mind it is if we can trade DeRozan for an expiring and pick.

[Danchan]

he's got the fat/girth to insulate him thru the toronto winter

[suntzuballin]

k thats cool.After he gets that contract i hate to say he aint gonna play like how he is(our get injured and not get back to form fast enough),then the media and fans be all over him,he be under pressure,become a locker room problem,then demand a trade,now with a crazy contract that cant be moved unless raps take on chit our masai pulls off mircle.Its better off trade him now our raps are destined for a domino effect!

[raptorsfan24]

k thats cool.After he gets that contract i hate to say he aint gonna play like how he is(our get injured and not get back to form fast enough),then the media and fans be all over him,he be under pressure,become a locker room problem,then demand a trade,now with a crazy contract that cant be moved unless raps take on chit our masai pulls off mircle.Its better off trade him now our raps are destined for a domino effect!

This is exactly what will happen. The same idiotic treadmillers who are saying "Sign Him!!!" will be pissed off next season when what you said happens.

[gamer1035]

THEN SIGN THE **** EXTENSION IF YOU LOVE IT SO MUCH

he is forced to say this. He wants the most money possible. Saying he hates Toronto and is leaving VIA free agency would only decrease his value.

Also, IMO, he turns into Lowry of last year after he signs (wherever that may be)

[suntzuballin]

k thats cool.After he gets that contract i hate to say he aint gonna play like how he is(our get injured and not get back to form fast enough),then the media and fans be all over him,he be under pressure,become a locker room problem,then demand a trade,now with a crazy contract that cant be moved unless raps take on chit our masai pulls off mircle.Its better off trade him now our raps are destined for a domino effect!

This is exactly what will happen. The same idiotic treadmillers who are saying "Sign Him!!!" will be pissed off next season when what you said happens.

yes exactly lowery just seems(theres something about him) to have this personality

[Garmfay]

As others have said, Lowry will get fat again, out of shape, get injured often and will be hated like Calderon after he got his contract also. Terrible mistake to keep him

[22haytham22]

THEN SIGN THE **** EXTENSION IF YOU LOVE IT SO MUCH

he is forced to say this. He wants the most money possible. Saying he hates Toronto and is leaving VIA free agency would only decrease his value.

Also, IMO, he turns into Lowry of last year after he signs (wherever that may be)

[LLJ]

I didn't think Lowry was all that bad last year actually. A little too passive offensively after Gay came here, but that was really my biggest problem with him. I thought he was great to start the season even though we weren't winning. That wasn't his fault. Casey and the media tried to use him as a scapegoat, but I see no concrete evidence he was ever really at fault for our bad start. And even though he missed some games, he still played 68 games which means he only missed about 14 games.

I mean, I understand the hesitation in re-signing him (I'm wary of it as well) but it wouldn't be because I'm afraid Lowry is going to turn into a bad player "again", because he never was bad.

[SuperBro]

I didn't think Lowry was all that bad last year actually. A little too passive offensively after Gay came here, but that was really my biggest problem with him. I thought he was great to start the season even though we weren't winning. That wasn't his fault. Casey and the media tried to use him as a scapegoat, but I see no concrete evidence he was ever really at fault for our bad start. And even though he missed some games, he still played 68 games which means he only missed about 14 games.

I mean, I understand the hesitation in re-signing him (I'm wary of it as well) but it wouldn't be because I'm afraid Lowry is going to turn into a bad player "again", because he never was bad.

I feel the same way. At the beginning of last season Lowry was playing out of his mind very much like he's playing now. Only problem was our team was garbage and bargs was still our number one option, that should tell you now bad we were. He got hurt and the raps started winning with Calderon. Lowry got a lot of criticism that I now feel was unfair. When he came back, he tried to play more like Calderon and be a team player. This should show you that Lowry was a team player all along.

Now that he has established himself to be the leader of this team and is his team, he's playing like a true leader like last night making that final pass to patpat.
This is the Lowry we've always wanted. He's really matured and is taking his game to the next level.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Steelo Green]

I didn't think Lowry was all that bad last year actually. A little too passive offensively after Gay came here, but that was really my biggest problem with him. I thought he was great to start the season even though we weren't winning. That wasn't his fault. Casey and the media tried to use him as a scapegoat, but I see no concrete evidence he was ever really at fault for our bad start. And even though he missed some games, he still played 68 games which means he only missed about 14 games.

I mean, I understand the hesitation in re-signing him (I'm wary of it as well) but it wouldn't be because I'm afraid Lowry is going to turn into a bad player "again", because he never was bad.

I feel the same way. At the beginning of last season Lowry was playing out of his mind very much like he's playing now. Only problem was our team was garbage and bargs was still our number one option, that should tell you now bad we were. He got hurt and the raps started winning with Calderon. Lowry got a lot of criticism that I now feel was unfair. When he came back, he tried to play more like Calderon and be a team player. This should show you that Lowry was a team player all along.

Now that he has established himself to be the leader of this team and is his team, he's playing like a true leader like last night making that final pass to patpat.
This is the Lowry we've always wanted. He's really matured and is taking his game to the next level.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using RealGM Forums mobile app

Totally agree. People act as though Lowry has been playing this way for two months. He has been relatively the same for 3 years, but now he is in the ideal situation to use those skills and he is playing to his maximum potential.

Us forcing him to play that Calderon style didn't work. He needs to be given the reigns to play within his game as he has been now and in Houston and he is effective. Link that with his superb shooting, and the fact the entire team follows his lead and you have the makings of a great player from a very good one.

[Parataxis]

I really don't get the people saying that he won't play as well next year.

What, do you think he's going to get a taste of the all-star game, and then just say 'nah, I'll hang back, I've got my contract'?

[MixxSRC]

It's kind of like Rondo situation. Extension talks crumbled with Rondo and Celtics and then Rondo came out and said that he wants to stay with Celtics for the rest of his career. Thing is (and correct me if I'm wrong) extension only goes up to 3 years so it makes more sense for him to wait and then sign 5 year contract. Now will he play at this level next year? I think he will. He showed flashes of his potential in Houston. His problem was health and beef with coaches. Not to mention always forced to play back up.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPY9GhkS45Y[/youtube]

[TheGoodDoctor]

It's kind of like Rondo situation. Extension talks crumbled with Rondo and Celtics and then Rondo came out and said that he wants to stay with Celtics for the rest of his career. Thing is (and correct me if I'm wrong) extension only goes up to 3 years so it makes more sense for him to wait and then sign 5 year contract. Now will he play at this level next year? I think he will. He showed flashes of his potential in Houston. His problem was health and beef with coaches. Not to mention always forced to play back up.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPY9GhkS45Y[/youtube]

And this would be my issue with re-signing him....

3 years, sounds good...5 years, no thanks.

If it were it would have to be a team option on the last 2 years.

[MikeM]

The funny thing is that people think Lowry was never good and this season is some huge deviation from his normal level of play.

This year's Kyle Lowry is basically a more in control, better shooting version of the past Kyle Lowry. But he's always been a good player.

[Yosemite Dan]

I am glad he likes Toronto, but i still don't want him long-term with us being a .500 team.

The only way I don't mind it is if we can trade DeRozan for an expiring and pick.

WTF???? What is wrong with some of you people?

[MixxSRC]

And this would be my issue with re-signing him....

3 years, sounds good...5 years, no thanks.

If it were it would have to be a team option on the last 2 years.

yeah last 2 year team option would be good.

[ballercb4]

Historically, Lowry has had his share of disruption behavior that, for example, has caused GSW to pass on trading for him. Thus, if I was his agent, I would advise him to be on his best bahavior at all times if he wants to maximize his value in his contract year. I would remind him of this every day, if I have to, so it's ingrained in his head. Notice Gay is now saying the same thing about the wanting to be with the KIngs. Say and do the right things to make teams want you.

Toronto is really the best place for Lowry to be this season and he and his agent know it. Where else would he be able to essentailly run the team and be the leader? Toronto gives him the best chance to max his next contract value. So he's going to do and say whatever it takes to finish the season here.

I'm not saying what he's saying is untrue - only he knows the real truth, but the real test will be when the rubber hits the road this summer when the offers are on the table. Will he take a lesser offer to stay with the Raptors team he says he loves? If he gets an offer from IND, will he be tempted by a possible Championship ring? If he gets an offer from NYK or LAL, would he be tempted by greater endorsement $$ he can get from being on those teams?... etc. Right now, he's just saying what he should be saying as a pending FA, which should be taken with a grain of salt.

People don't change overnight...if it is too good to be true it often is...lets hope Masai is smart enough to tell the truth from smoke when it comes to the Lowry situation..