The Raptors remain confident about their chances of bringing back top free agents Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet (via Twitter).
Lowry and Ibaka share an agent in ASM’s Andy Miller, and Miller met with the Raptors “late into the night” on Saturday morning after the free agent period opened, according to David Aldridge of TNT (Twitter link). While neither Lowry or Ibaka agreed to a deal following those meetings, the two sides remain in contact.
If the Raptors do lock up both Lowry and Ibaka to market-value deals, the team figures to go into luxury-tax territory for the first time. That could potentially be avoided by moving another player on a sizable contract – such as DeMarre Carroll or Jonas Valanciunas – but Toronto will likely wait on decisions from Lowry and Ibaka before considering how to address the rest of its roster.
The odds of the Raptors re-signing P.J. Tucker may not be quite as high, as the club is facing “competition” on the veteran forward, according to Grange. The Kings are said to be meeting with Tucker today, while the Timberwolves, Nuggets, Sixers, and Clippers have also been linked to him.
I would maybe go to 3 years/$78-84 million for Lowry if I absolutely had to, but I’d be worried about that 3rd year and his injury history. The playoff thing has to do with that team being an iso type team through 2 guys, which doesn’t work in the playoffs unless you make contested jumpshots.
He probably is worth closer to 3 years/$72 million, but with how well he played last year before he got hurt, he probably gets at least the 80
Lowry hasn’t had any major injuries mostly just wear and tear with a few bumps and bruises…hell u could say Curry has a more extensive injury history even tho that was more earlier in his career and he just got 200million…i would be more worried about paying top dollar for Lowry in the twilight of his career than worried about his injury history as of now
Money aside, Ibaka would be perfect on the Cavs if they could swap him for Thompson.
jrue resigning with the pelicans removed the main contender for lowrys services. Mavs have Smith JR so maybe they are out too. Knicks always an option.
Agree… All of the teams that really needed PG no longer need them. Outside of NY but I don’t think they are an option for Lowry. Raps have all the leverage. What looked like a guy who would for sure get max going into fa almost certainly won’t now. Good for the raptors.
Yea, esp with his choking/underperforming the last 2 series vs LBJ this doesn’t help him get Max. Wonder if the Magic would be in on him if they could move a contract and Payton. Lowry Fournier Isaac Gordon and Vucevic could make a run for the 7 or 8 seed.