NBA free agency (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
As the clock ticked down on the final game for the Toronto Raptors before the trade deadline, rumors flew about a potential change of scenery for the face of the franchise Kyle Lowry, a pending candidate in NBA free agency. The Raptors were going nowhere fast and Lowry was still more than capable of pushing a team to a title. The deadline passed without a move but the rumored rebuild is still on the horizon.
The Raptors got a little lucky on lottery night jumping all the way up to fourth in the draft. That is the type of luck that can increase the pace of a rebuild. There are rumors about a possible trade of Pascal Siakam, further pushing forward a youth movement. With all of that in mind, it is increasingly likely that Lowry will be finding his way to another team.
Kyle Lowry may be the greatest Raptor ever but his time in the North is nearing its end. What three teams make the most sense for Lowry in NBA free agency?
All three of the teams in question are varying levels of a contender. They were all playoff teams in the Eastern Conference. As was made abundantly obvious this season, adding an All-Star caliber player could be sufficient to get over the top. The Milwaukee Bucks added Jrue Holiday and finally got to the NBA Finals. Lowry could provide a similar boost to these other squads who may just be a piece away from a run akin to the Atlanta Hawks or Milwaukee Bucks.
finally got to the NBA Finals</a>. Lowry could provide a similar boost to these other squads who may just be a piece away from a run akin to the Atlanta Hawks or Milwaukee Bucks.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/06/nba-free-agency-kyle-lowry/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Philadelphia </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-432004" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/06/nba-free-agency-kyle-lowry/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1293692153.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1293692153.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1293692153-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA free agency (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Kyle Lowry NBA free agency destination: Philadelphia 76ers</h2>
<p>One of the favorites to nab Lowry at the trade deadline, making another run to bring him home to the Philadelphia 76ers makes sense. They are in need of a primary ballhandler who can create his own shot and have been for quite some time. Ben Simmons has been the nominal point guard but after another postseason collapse changes are coming.</p>
<p>Setting up the likely three-team sign-and-trade that would be required to make this work is certainly difficult but if there are two executives in the league who you would trust to make the deal work, Daryl Morrey and Masai Ujiri are high on that list. On the court, Lowry fits the city he was no raised in perfectly.</p>
<p>This would immediately make the Sixers one of the favorites to win it all. They were the top seed in the Conference this season with a non-scorer running the offense. Lowry would bring a level of experience and confidence to the team they have lacked since Jimmy Butler left. He has taken a slight step back defensively but is still more than competitive on that end of the court. Figuring out the roster around him, Embiid and either Simmons or the players they get back in a trade would take some work but it is the makings of a title team.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/06/nba-free-agency-kyle-lowry/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> New York </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-432005" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/06/nba-free-agency-kyle-lowry/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1312200048.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312200048.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1312200048-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Kyle Lowry NBA free agency destination: New York Knicks</h2>
<p>Not at the level of contender of yet, the New York Knicks will always be in the discussions for big-time free agents. After a season where they far exceeded expectations, it may finally be the right time for the Knicks to take a swing.</p>
<p>Offensive struggles ended up being the downfall for New York in the playoffs. They struggled to find a consistent identity at point guard, oftentimes stretching sixth man Derrick Rose or rookie Immanuel Quickley beyond their means because starter Elfrid Payton left the team wanting. Combined with the fact that the offensive touch left Most Improved Player winner Julius Randle in the playoffs (24.1 points on 51.6 effective field goal percentage to 18.0 points on 35.6 effective field goal percentage) led to an early exit.</p>
<p>Adding a gritty leader who is more than capable of taking over on the offensive end of the court would change the ceiling for the Knicks. He would bring much-needed shooting (39.6 percent from distance) from that position to a team that already ranked third in 3-point percentage this season. Combined with Randle’s leap to All-NBA and the continued progress of RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson, Lowry would be the step towards adding the all-important third star.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/06/nba-free-agency-kyle-lowry/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Miami </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-432006" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/06/nba-free-agency-kyle-lowry/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1313365892.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313365892.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313365892-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA free agency (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Kyle Lowry NBA free agency destination: Miami Heat</h2>
<p>There is no franchise that fits with Lowry’s personality more than the Miami Heat. He has a noted friendship with Jimmy Butler and the Heat are in need of a point guard with the contract for Goran Dragic potentially coming off the books. After a run to the NBA Finals in the bubble, it became clear the time to compete for a title is now. Jimmy Butler is in the midst of his prime and Bam Adebayo is a title building block.</p>
<p>Miami has as clear of a path to sign him as the Knicks do given that they can free up $34.4 million in cap space by declining the player options on Dragic and Andre Iguodala. At least some of that space should be used to bring back Duncan Robinson but that does not eliminate the possibility of bringing Lowry into the fold.</p>
<p>He is a healthier option than Dragic has been in recent years and brings more on the defensive side of the court. Lowry provides more of a threat from deep than Dragic at this point, essential for any team relying on the questionable shooting touch of Butler. The Heat have consistently been a treat to make it to the NBA Finals in the Pat Riley era. Bringing in Lowry puts them right back on the precipice.</p>
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