One of the free agents expected to receive significant interest in the open market this summer is Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry. His playoff experience and solid playmaking skills are valuable commodities these days that only a few other players can rival.

He has long been linked to his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers, but now it's almost a certainty that playing close to home 41 times every year will not happen.

After the Sixers traded for the top overall pick from the Boston Celtics, it spoke a lot on how impressed they are with Markelle Fultz. With the former Washington standout being a point guard, his impending addition will already address the team's need of bolstering their rotation at that position and will no longer go after Lowry.

That may be the case for the 31-year-old Villanova product but the good news for him is there's still a handful of teams who will pursue him once free agency starts. His current team has been vocal that they want to re-sign him, and the development between the Celtics and 76ers has definitely strengthened their chances of retaining his services and make him continue his career in Toronto.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Lowry, and where he'll end up after this summer. If there's anything clear at this point though, he will have a big decision to make, and it could have a huge impact on a team's chances of becoming successful in the years to come.