Lowry Thread (Woj: Mulling HOU/TOR offers; LAL/MIA want in)

[mintsa]

i havent just gone thru a few of this thread's pages - we all would like to the raptors to resign him but no one wants to overpay him. well, tell me what other options do you have?

we arent willing to give 5 yr option (lets say its 12mil 5 yrs - 60 mil) to lowry who was the reason this team played so well last season; yet we are willing to spend/sign on bledsoe that same amount or similar becz he is younger than him?

Sounds like this going to net out at 5 - 55. Le Doug is trying to coax readership by saying Miami is in position to make an offer with the big 1.5 now under contract. As long as LBJ isn't signed and demanding the max there is a big question mark in Miami. Not to mention assuming a position where Chalmers and Cole were such after thoughts. Miami is really like the Shaquille Heat and are looking at the downward slope of their run. Wade is near toast and Bosh at best an 11 mil player. The whole thing rests on LBJs shoulders and as long as they hang onto Wade and Bosh and overpay them (at reduced rates) this might be getting near to a finish. Bosh isn't even playing for rings now he is playing to live in Miami.

The only thing I'll regret on the oft chance KL leaves is the loss of leadership, ability to take over a game and the optics. Saving all that money like Nash is likely a blessing in disguise.

Those are 2 HUGE things that Lowry brings. He's the head of the snake for Toronto. If we lose him. We lose those 2 things because nobody else on our team brings that.

[ForeverTFC]

So Grange is reporting that Kyle is getting an avg of 11 per. No wonder he isn't jumping up to sign the contract. There was never an inclination that he would be starting at less than 12.

If Kyle is going to be here at 44/4, by all means let him take as much time as he wants. That is an amazing contract considering.

[mintsa]

So Grange is reporting that Kyle is getting an avg of 11 per. No wonder he isn't jumping up to sign the contract. There was never an inclination that he would be starting at less than 12.

If Kyle is going to be here at 44/4, by all means let him take as much time as he wants. That is an amazing contract considering.

Where did you read that on his twitter ?

[chuckdevlin]

So Grange is reporting that Kyle is getting an avg of 11 per. No wonder he isn't jumping up to sign the contract. There was never an inclination that he would be starting at less than 12.

If Kyle is going to be here at 44/4, by all means let him take as much time as he wants. That is an amazing contract considering.

source?

[Kevin Willis]

Lowry isn't worth 12 mil for 5 years. Just like when Masai said no to trading Ross, you have to stick to your limits. If someone else wants to give him that then fine, they can be saddled with it. We still win the Atlantic either way.

Brooklyn - not good (especially if they lose Pierce, Livingston AND Garnett)
Philly - D-League team with so many rookies / young players
Boston - see Philly (especially if they lose Rondo)
NY - not good (especially if they lose Carmelo AND Bargnani / Amare continue to regress)

Our guard rotation of GV, De Colo, Lou, Derozan, Ross is a mixture of playmakers, scorers, defense and shooters. Lowry makes it stronger but we will survive. Phx also put themselves into a position that they will be ok if Bledsoe goes with all their guards making the whole thing interesting...

[ForeverTFC]

According to league sources the Raptors are comfortable going to $11 million for four years. The real decision will be what they want to do with the fifth year — an enticement they are the only team in position to offer as Lowry is a returning free agent.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/ ... e-meeting/

If this is true, the wait makes sense.

[chuckdevlin]

According to league sources the Raptors are comfortable going to $11 million for four years. The real decision will be what they want to do with the fifth year — an enticement they are the only team in position to offer as Lowry is a returning free agent.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/ ... e-meeting/

If this is true, the wait makes sense.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

The waiting is tough, but if we're confident we can get it done with our offer then I hope it works out. If it doesn't, obviously they felt the price was too high, or Lowry was just not as keen on coming back as it seemed. I do wonder how much impact on team going to 12 rather than 11 is, or even adding a 5, at 11 and that will be debated obviously if Lowry doesn't come back. But more important than that will be how Masai rebounds.

[ForeverTFC]

The waiting is tough, but if we're confident we can get it done with our offer then I hope it works out. If it doesn't, obviously they felt the price was too high, or Lowry was just not as keen on coming back as it seemed. I do wonder how much impact on team going to 12 rather than 11 is, or even adding a 5, at 11 and that will be debated obviously if Lowry doesn't come back. But more important than that will be how Masai rebounds.

Grange's wording makes it sound like it is 11 per on avg, while I believe Kyle was looking for something that started at 12 and gave him increases through its term. The difference is probably about 6m over the life of the contract, which is a nice chunk of change.

I will be fine with a 5th year, as long as it is partially guaranteed - say for $2m.

[CoachJReturns]

4 years at 10-12 million is fine with me. That 5th year concerns me, though. How productive do we expect him to be by the 4th year? Should be interesting to see how this plays out, but if Masai let him walk because he didn't want to pay a 5th year, I'd probably understand.

[WigginsNation]

I think Masai has a backup plan, and that backup plan is Eric Bledsoe. But i would be very surprised if Kyle doesnt return for a number of reasons:

1) Kyle cant go to Houston unless Toronto agrees to sign & trade him there. Doubt Masai agrees to that.

2) Kyle will not sacrifice major money by going to Miami. Its inconceivable that Miami spends their remaining cap money on one player. Wont happen.

3) LA has the cap room but just not an enticing team atm

So to conclude, Kyle will be back guys! Guaranteed. Masai knows what he's doing.

[_venom_]

The 4/44 figure is exactly what I had in mind for Lowry. It's a fair contract for him at his age and level of play. I doubt any other team is offering that much. If he really wants the 5th year then bring the annual average down to 10 mil per at 5/50.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

I think Masai has a backup plan, and that backup plan is Eric Bledsoe. But i would be very surprised if Kyle doesnt return for a number of reasons:

1) Kyle cant go to Houston unless Toronto agrees to sign & trade him there. Doubt Masai agreed to that.

2) Kyle will not sacrifice major money by going to Miami. Its inconceivable that Miami spends their remaining cap money on one player. Wont happen.

3) LA has the cap room but just not an enticing team atm

So to conclude, Kyle will be back guys! Guaranteed. Masai knows what he's doing.

I don't believe your first point. Houston can sign him outright. They prefer to do sign and trade though and use that space to bring in other pieces. Also, if Lowry was to contact Masai and say, thanks but Houston is where I want to go, S&T talks would at least be considered. Depending on what's offered it would be dumb to let spite get in the way of getting some return. At least he'd be going west.

[navyblue]

can we get rid of this idea that the raptors would be a player for bledsoe. first of all he is a rfa, secondly we dont have cap space to offer such player a contract, third we dont match up well with them to do a s&t. they are a guard and pf heavy team just like the raptors. Unless we are willing to move JV forget bledsoe.

[RNsteve]

Actually didn't realize how much losing out on Ennis essentially forced us into a corner with Lowry, Question is..do you guys see Lowry being worth 13mil + or more likely a 5year when we have a Jonas(&lersser s Ross) resign in 2 years?

[baubo]

Houston's incentive to S&T is that it allows them to keep their MLE. It's useful to be sure, but certainly not enough where they'd just give up on signing Lowry outright if they can't keep it. The MLE is not THAT important to the Rockets.

[UnRealGM]

Actually didn't realize how much losing out on Ennis essentially forced us into a corner with Lowry, Question is..do you guys see Lowry being worth 13mil + or more likely a 5year when we have a Jonas(&lersser s Ross) resign in 2 years?

he's not worth 13+

[gerrit4]

4 years at 10-12 million is fine with me. That 5th year concerns me, though. How productive do we expect him to be by the 4th year? Should be interesting to see how this plays out, but if Masai let him walk because he didn't want to pay a 5th year, I'd probably understand.

Yep, agreed. A 4 year contract sounds good to me - I'd be concerned about 5 years.

[Courtside]

If we were making tbe kind of ridiculous offers that were being reported then Kyle would have agreed by now. As soon as I heard that they were meeting later in the day or that he was going to take a day or two to decide, I knew that Masai made a strong but reasonable offer. 4/44 is about the max that any experienced posters on here are willing to go and it seems to be in line with Ujiri's thinking also. It's a very good offer but doesn't go overboard.

Waiting accomplishes a few things, and may well be done with Masai's urging. It typicaly turns pressure up on teams wanting a player and that includes us, but if our offer doesn't change then Kyle and his agent have the ability to go out and squeeze ither teams for value also. It requires a plan B for Masai, but waiting also puts more pressure on Houston or Miami (or whoever) to up their offers eithrr in terms of salary or in terms of trade assets. If Kyle wants to leave then MU would help him get the most be could.

That said, I think Masai sticks to his guns and Lowry is back on a 4/44 deal. If not, then it either proves to be a smart decision to let him walk rather than overpay, or it proves to exract as much as possible from Morey before dealing Kyle to Houston in a S&T.

Bunch of drama queens here that have never 'negotiated' anything.

[hillbilly hare]

I think Masai has a backup plan, and that backup plan is Eric Bledsoe. But i would be very surprised if Kyle doesnt return for a number of reasons:

1) Kyle cant go to Houston unless Toronto agrees to sign & trade him there. Doubt Masai agreed to that.

2) Kyle will not sacrifice major money by going to Miami. Its inconceivable that Miami spends their remaining cap money on one player. Wont happen.

3) LA has the cap room but just not an enticing team atm

So to conclude, Kyle will be back guys! Guaranteed. Masai knows what he's doing.

I don't believe your first point. Houston can sign him outright. They prefer to do sign and trade though and use that space to bring in other pieces. Also, if Lowry was to contact Masai and say, thanks but Houston is where I want to go, S&T talks would at least be considered. Depending on what's offered it would be dumb to let spite get in the way of getting some return. At least he'd be going west.

The last point is the best worst-case situation if Lowry decides to leave. The sign and trade with Houston who, yes, has the cap space to sign Lowry straight up, BUT they wouldn't have the cap space to sign Melo or Lebron or any other superstar. Which seems to be what they want.

If things went as you say, I can see the timing being:
Houston miraculously clearing Lin's contract and other smaller pieces to sign Melo.
Lowry sign and trade to Toronto, but (at least for me) the ONLY piece I'm interested in is PARSONS, on a similar deal per year to Lowry's, e.g. 12-ish. Houston will naturally try to dump Lin on us, but that should be a no-go from the start.

The Rockets would look pretty awesome: Lowry - Harden - Melo - Jones - Howard.

We would look pretty good too, but would have Vasquez as our starting PG. Which isn't all that bad.
We wouldn't have the flexibility to go after Bledsoe at that point.

We would focus on 2014 when Dragic and Millsap become free agents.
Turn things around in 12 months: Dragic - Demar - Parsons - Millsap - Jonas. With Ross as 6th man.