The Toronto Raptors were able to achieve success in retaining star point guard Kyle Lowry, who was coming off a career year this past season. According to Yahoo Sports, Lowry will re-sign with the Raptors under a four-year deal worth $48 million.
The deal, sources say, includes an early termination option that allows Lowry to become a free agent after the third year. Lowry, 28, averaged about 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds per game last season.
After a solid season and many teams expected to court him in free agency, it seemed to be the Raptors' No. 1 priority to retain him. Lowry has been the key factor to the team's success last season and was the leader of the squad that helped give the Raptors their first playoff-berth in forever.
It almost was a given that Lowry would return to Toronto after talks of him going to the Houston Rockets were all but dead. The Rockets wanted to do a sign-and-trade, but were unable to.
And then for the longest time, reports came out of the Miami Heat pursuing Lowry. However, with the team's situation already a mess right now with their own Big Three, the chances slimmed down each time a new report came up about Miami.
Big props to the Raptors for keeping Lowry and at a fair value. This is how small market teams and players on those teams should function. Superb move, in my opinion.
