In what comes as a bit of surprising news today, the Toronto Raptors are reportedly deciding to keep point guard Kyle Lowry as they try to make a run to the 2014 NBA Playoffs.Thanks to trading Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings, the Raptors have found out how to win games as they stand as the only Eastern Conference team not named the Indiana Pacers or Miami Heat that holds a .500 or above record (17-17).
With that said, Toronto could run away with the Atlantic division, and this could be a rare chance for them to provide their fans a chance to show them what it could be like to be in the second round of the postseason.
Lowry has been one of the focal points of the Raptors and their latest run of winning games, as he is averaging nearly 16 points and eight assists per game, along with four rebounds. Lowry had been on the trade block for awhile, and almost headed to the New York Knicks a few months back.
Now, with the Raptors winning and the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets creeping behind in their division, this could be a chance for Toronto to try to get into their winning ways and head into the postseason.
With that, Marc Stein of ESPN reports it is officially unlikely that the Raps will send out Lowry be the NBA trade deadline, and will instead keep the 27-year-old on the roster:
For the first time, there are certifiable rumbles emanating from Toronto suggesting that the Raptors might well keep point guard Kyle Lowry for the rest of the season. Word is new GM Masai Ujiri continues to resist locking into any sort of firm position — leaving open the possibility of a Lowry deal if the offers suddenly get sweeter — but team officials appear to be growing increasingly comfortable with the idea that it’s better to go for what would be just Toronto’s third playoff berth in 13 seasons rather than try to do the absolute uber-tanking it would take from here for the 17-17 Raps to get into Andrew Wiggins range now.
The only way a Lowry trade is possible is if the Raptors end up getting something that is a lot better in return. At 17-17, it's going to be a lot harder to tank and get back into the race for getting Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker in the 2014 NBA Draft.
At this point, the Raptors in the middle of what to do: they can either continue trying to win and do something they have never done, or go back to their losing ways but don't do enough and end up as a pointless eighth, ninth or tenth seed.
Based off this latest decision, the Raptors are making a run for the postseason.
