Returning to Toronto on Wednesday to face his old team, Heat point guard Kyle Lowry said he still calls the city home and that his plans to eventually retire as a member of the Raptors haven’t changed, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
“I’m definitely retiring as a Raptor,” Lowry said. “That’s something I’ve said since I left here. I will sign that one-day contract and I will retire as a Toronto Raptor.”
Lowry’s three-year contract with Miami will expire at the end of the 2023/24 season, but he doesn’t envision that being the end of the line for his playing career. The 37-year-old told reporters that he hopes to play at least one more season after this one and that he doesn’t want to just sit on a contender’s bench in the hopes of chasing a ring.
“I want to play. I definitely want to play,” he said. “I think I still play at a high enough level that I can contribute to a team at a high level. That’s the biggest thing for me is being able to stay healthy and I’m still motivated to play. I still love this game. This game has given me so much and I still feel like I can still help the team. That’s what I want to do is be able to play.”
Here’s more on the Raptors ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with the second-leading scorer in franchise history:
- Ahead of OG Anunoby‘s potential 2024 free agency, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca considers whether the three-and-D wing has untapped potential on the offensive end and how that might affect his next contract. Anunoby’s role on offense hasn’t changed much under new head coach Darko Rajakovic — his usage rate (19.1%) is right in line with where it’s been the past three seasons.
- The intensity of the Raptors’ “play group” pick-up games – scrimmages which feature the players who aren’t regular rotation fixtures, along with some player development coaches – is a point of pride for veteran swingman Garrett Temple, as Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca details. “I think the biggest thing is, you have to have guys that understand how much you can get out of it,” Temple said. “But you can get out of it as much as you put in. It’s a situation where everybody wants to play in the real games. The fact is, we got 15 guys, and most teams are only going to play nine, maybe 10. So you have to stay ready. And the bottom line is we get paid to play basketball. This is playing basketball at a high level against high-level guys. And I love it because there’s a way to continue to compete and continue to keep your skills sharp.”
- In an entertaining story for TSN.ca, Josh Lewenberg revisits a deal that changed the course of Raptors history, sharing an oral history of the six-player trade headlined by Rudy Gay that Toronto completed 10 years ago this week. At the time, the move suggested the Raptors were shifting into sell mode, but the team went 42-22 the rest of the way and finished with 48 victories. It was the first of seven straight years with at least 48 wins, including the championship season of 2018/19.
All stories and rumors. Say Raptors want a lot for either Siakam or OG. What Raptors need most is a pass first PG. And to me OG and Barnes play the same position.
Both Siakam, OG can be FAs next yr. So one or both should be moved by TD. Siakam can bring back best offer. Imo OG is the one they should move. Sixers should be all over an OG trade. Raptors should be eying Quickley.
Barnes and OG have overlap? I think you need to reexamine your analysis on this team.
It’s Barnes and Siakam who have the overlap. Trade pascal and resign OG.
Anunoby III — It’s become an annual deadline tradition. Ujiri shops Anunoby for a superstar price, while Anunoby indicates his superstar salary expectations. But for these, one might think Anunoby is a role player who misses too many games. I guess that would ignore his “untapped potential on the offensive end.”
Looking at that Raptor bench, maybe it’s a one year vs one day contract for Lowry.
He can be a mentor to a young PG. They need to find a PG. Lowry can play a yr and retire a Raptor.
Heat also can get DeM. Although a PG is a bigger need. Just don’t see one available. Jovic, Lowry and a pick would be a good return. Then move Herro I guess.
Lakers also said to be looking DeM.
Moving DeM makes most sense for Chicago. They’ll be a few suitors for him.