Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry was one of the biggest names expected to land on a different team on Thursday. But as time expired on the NBA trade deadline, he was surprisingly still a member of the Raptors.
Shortly after the trade deadline passed, Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri addressed the events that led to their decision to keep Lowry despite many offers on the table (via TSN SPorts' Josh Lewenberg).
Masai Ujiri: "You guys wanted that (Lowry) farewell story, huh? Sorry, you'll have to postpone that."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) March 25, 2021
Ujiri admitted he was surprised nobody met their asking price for Lowry. "To be honest, I viewed him as somebody that could go and put a stamp on what you're trying to do this year. I know if he went to those places, I know what (that could've done), I've lived it, I've seen it"
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) March 25, 2021
One of the biggest storylines surrounding the possible Lowry trade was that the Raptors were asking an absurd asking price for his services. The one-time NBA champion has received plenty of interest among several contenders, particularly the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Miami Heat.
Ujiri's preferred returns for Lowry, however, seemed unattainable, since they wanted a mix of young players and a slew of first round picks. For instance, the Raptors reportedly wanted a haul of Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, trade 2021 and 2023 first round picks, and this year's pick in 2023 from the Sixers for Lowry.
The Sixers understandably did not bite, while the Lakers and the Heat could not afford the hefty asking price.
Ujiri explained that it was not the Raptors' intention to put an absurd price for Lowry, and they were simply doing justice to his value to the team.
Ujiri on Lowry market: "We're going to biassed, you always are with your players, but for Kyle we're extremely, extremely biassed because of what he does and what he stands for… If I valued him too much, hey, that's what I believe in."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) March 25, 2021
Ujiri added he could have easily shipped Lowry to a losing team with a lot of future assets to give, but narrowed down their search to contenders instead since they wanted to give the 35-year-old a chance to win his second NBA title.
Masai adds that if they were going to do something, they were going to do right by Lowry, which limited the # of teams they spoke to. "That's the respect we have for him. We've come a long way and I think we owe him that respect as a player and as a person."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) March 25, 2021
Kyle Lowry stays with the Raptors. At least for the rest of the season.
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