There’s a chance that Kyle Lowry has played his last game in Toronto. While he’ll suit up for the Raptors in Tampa Bay this season, he can hit the free agent market next summer before the team presumably heads back to their home.
Lowry, who will turn 35 in March, said hasn’t spoken with the organization about his future beyond this season (h/t Michael Grange of Rogers Sportnet). The point guard added that he’s simply focused on winning this year.
The Villanova product made the All-Star team in each of the past six seasons and there’s no reason to think he’s heading for a dramatic decline as he plays through his mid-30’s. Backcourt mate Fred VanVleet, who recently signed a four-year, $85 million contract, has notably taken on a larger role than Lowry, who’s making $30.5 million this year. Still, the former No. 24 overall pick remains a fixture with the franchise that he helped lead to its only NBA title back in 2019.
The Raptors lost Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka in free agency during this past offseason but are expected to compete for a top-4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Lowry’s contributions during his contract year will go along way to determine whether they meet those expectations.
