In the wake of a report that cast some doubts on whether Kyle Lowry intends to re-sign with the Raptors, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News examines the point guard’s situation, suggesting that Lowry returning to Toronto is still the most likely outcome. However, Deveney pointed to a couple other teams as potential Lowry suitors.
Sources have indicated to Deveney that there’s a chance the Knicks will pursue Lowry, though if the 31-year-old wants to join a contending team, that may take New York out of the equation. According to Deveney, the Nuggets may be another team to watch, since they have cap room necessary to make a splash and could use a long-term solution at the point. They’ve also shown a willingness to go after impact players — I suggested last week that the Nuggets may be a good bet to pursue a free agent point guard.
Meanwhile, Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Jimmy Butler “has been in [Lowry’s] ear” about joining the Bulls since the two played together for Team USA. A Bulls source tells Cowley that Butler and Dwyane Wade would prefer to play with a point guard who can space the floor better than Rajon Rondo, and Lowry would certainly fit that bill. I don’t think the Bulls signing Lowry is a very realistic scenario, but I also didn’t expect the club to add Wade and Rondo a year ago, so we’ll see how the offseason plays out.
Here are a few other free agent notes from around the NBA:
- Manu Ginobili, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer, has yet to make a final decision on his future. However, there have been positive indications that he’s leaning toward returning to the Spurs for another year, league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
- Pacers president Kevin Pritchard is mulling the possibility of having Lance Stephenson run the point in Indiana if the team embarks on a rebuild, tweets Gregg Doyel of The Indianapolis Star. While Doyel doesn’t come out and say it, that wouldn’t be a good sign for Jeff Teague‘s odds of re-signing with the Pacers this offseason.
- Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sixers president Bryan Colangelo downplayed the idea of the Sixers foraying into free agency much this summer, suggesting the club wants to maintain maximum flexibility for 2018, when its core is “more ready” (Twitter link via Derek Bodner).
- Kincade Upstill of The Deseret News explores possible next steps for the Jazz if Gordon Hayward departs in free agency next month.
Tell Kyle Lowry lay off get his fat a** on a treadmill and then maybe I’ll take him on my Knicks.
Lol because the Knicks’ options are soooo much better right? When was the last time the Knicks actually had a decent point guard? Jeremy Lin?
The Knicks certainly haven’t had a point guard that is Lowry’s caliber in the past decade. But Knicks fans are delusional and for some reason believe that they deserve more because its the “greatest city in the world”
What FA is he looking at in 2018? Really just Bradley, Boogie and PG13 ETO. Jordan, Aldridge, LBJ, and Westbrook do have ETOs though.
LBJ, Klay Thompson, Wall, Westbrook, Melo, Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan, Kemba Walker, Butler ETO, Harden ETO, Horford ETO, Whiteside ETO, M Gasol ETO, Irving ETO, Leonard ETO, Dragic ETO
the Knicks are on the “OWNERSHIP” could care less about winning rebuild….Adam Silver is going to have to step in next year when Dolan pays Phil to leave town. does anyone have any James Dolan tapes so NYC can get rid of him like LA did with Sterling????!!!!