The Toronto Raptors are looking to part ways with some of their key players after a nine-game losing streak dropped them to the No.11 spot in the Eastern Conference and out of the playoff contention.

According to ESPN’s NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Raptors informed other teams that they will listen to offers for All-Star Kyle Lowry and guard Norman Powell. Both players have multiple suitors, although neither deal seems close to being finalized just yet.

Lowry is particularly drawing attention from the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers, although Wojnarowski points out that both teams “have shown restraint in how far they’ll go” to pull off a trade.

Powell, on the other hand, is almost certainly gone with the question only being who will make the best offer to get him. 

Kyle Lowry is playing his ninth season with the Raptors, having joined the organization in a trade from Houston Rockets in 2012. He earned six All-Star nods in Toronto and helped the franchise win an NBA title in 2019.

While Lowry established himself as one of the franchise legends, the Raptors’ decision to move him isn’t surprising. Toronto is seemingly heading towards a soft rebuild, and getting assets for a 34-year-old player on an expiring contract would be a great way to kick start the process.

Norman Powell, who is currently playing his best NBA season and averaging 19.5 points per game, is also heading towards free agency. Powell is expected to reject his player option and explore the market, where he’ll likely find offers that the Raptors will have a hard time matching.

The post Raptors Looking to Trade Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors will be missing their two key starters for the upcoming stretch of games. The team announced over the weekend that All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry and forward Serge Ibaka are out with injuries.

Lowry and Ibaka both went down in the second quarter of Friday’s 122-104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

According to the team’s announcement, Lowry suffered a broken thumb and will be out at least two weeks. The team plans to reevaluate him after that.

Ibaka, on the other hand, sprained his ankle after trying to contest a layup. He is currently listed as “out indefinitely,” with the team hoping the get a more clear timetable following further evaluation.

Kyle Lowry has been playing great at the start of the season, averaging 21.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.1 steals. On top of that, Lowry has been also shooting impressive 42.6 percent from the three-point line.

Serge Ibaka has been averaging 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Toronto Raptors are currently second in the Eastern Conference with 6-2 record. They have a five-game stretch on the road in front of them, which starts against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The post Raptors’ Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka Suffer Injuries appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors’ point guard Kyle Lowry won’t be a part of the 2020 free agent class after all. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Lowry received a one-year extension from the Raptors, which now keeps him under contract until the summer of 2021.

Lowry’s agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed on Monday that his client has a new deal in place. The extension is reportedly worth $33 million.

Talkin to ESPN, Bartelstein was especially appreciative of Raptors’ president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster’s willingness to get the deal done.

“We are so appreciative of how Masai and Bobby handled every aspect of this negotiation,” – said Bartelstein. “Once again, they displayed how they look after their players in a first-class manner, especially someone like Kyle who they recognize has such a legacy with the franchise.”

Kyle Lowry’s representatives and Raptors’ front office have been working on the extension for several months now. Both sides wanted to get the deal done before the start of the season, and ensure that the 33-year old All Star remains with the organization which he helped won their first NBA title last season.

Lowry joined the Raptors from Houston Rockets in 2012. He managed to establish himself as one of the team’s key players since then, and has been Toronto’s leader on and off the court. During his time with the organization, he managed to make five All-Star appearances.

Lowry averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game past season. He added 15.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists in the postseason.

The post Raptors Sign Kyle Lowry to a 1-Year, $33 Million Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers are heading into this summer with an intention to pair LeBron James with a second (and possibly a third) star in an attempt to construct a championship contender. While their main focus will be free-agency and getting Anthony Davis, the team will also explore swapping their young stars for proven veterans. Reportedly, one of the veterans Lakers are interested in trading for is Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry.

According to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, Lakers will pursue a trade for Lowry in case that Kawhi Leonard leaves Toronto in the summer. If this happens, the Raptors will presumably head into a rebuild and Lowry might find himself on the chopping block considering his expiring contract and trade potential.

For Lakers, getting Kyle Lowry would make sense as the team needs shooters, playmaking abilities, and someone who can play without the ball; and Lowry checks all these boxes. Also, trading for Lowry wouldn’t require the team to give up many of their prized assets. Finally, Lowry is becoming a free agent in 2020 so the Lakers could have enough cap space to pursue another max free agent.

Lowry played 65 games for the Raptors in the regular season and averaged 14.2 points, 8.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

Other players that Lakers might target besides Lowry according to Deveney include Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal and Utah Jazz’s Derrick Favors.

The post Lakers Reportedly Interested in Trading for Raptors’ Kyle Lowry appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors finished the regular NBA season as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference with a 59-23 record. They posted a franchise record for most wins in a regular season and were tied with Houston Rockets as the NBA’s best team at the home court. Still, that didn’t matter much to Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, who called the season a “wasted year” after his team was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

“We felt like we could possibly make the NBA Finals,” – said Lowry during the Raptors’ exit interviews. “That was our goal.“

Toronto Raptors’ hopes of the for NBA Finals vapored away on Monday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the elimination Game 4 in a big fashion, 128-93. Kyle Lowry only had five points in this game alongside four rebounds and 10 assists. This was the third straight season that the Raptors are being eliminated by the Cavs and LeBron James in the playoffs.

“To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” – Lowry added. “We’ve continuously failed against the team that made the Finals the last three years.“

His teammate DeMar DeRozan also feels bad about the defeat.

“This is probably the toughest, most frustrating, difficult, lowest feeling I’ve had,” – said DeRozan. “You get to that point where you’re standing firm through everything and you feel like you can’t get knocked down again, and you realize you do get knocked back down again. It’s kind of the worst feeling.“

It looks like all the good that Toronto Raptors did this regular season was erased with their poor performance in the playoffs. Sources close to the Raptors are reporting that the front office is preparing some major changes and are even considering replacing NBA Coach of the Year candidate Dwane Casey. There are also talks that the team might consider resetting their roster. Whether this turns out to be true or not, the Raptors are facing another challenging offseason in which they will try to find the way to beat The King.

The post Raptors’ Record-Breaking Season a “Wasted Year” After Early Playoff Exit Says Kyle Lowry appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Toronto Raptors are looking to part ways with some of their key players after a nine-game losing streak dropped them to the No.11 spot in the Eastern Conference and out of the playoff contention.

According to ESPN’s NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Raptors informed other teams that they will listen to offers for All-Star Kyle Lowry and guard Norman Powell. Both players have multiple suitors, although neither deal seems close to being finalized just yet.

Lowry is particularly drawing attention from the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers, although Wojnarowski points out that both teams “have shown restraint in how far they’ll go” to pull off a trade.

Powell, on the other hand, is almost certainly gone with the question only being who will make the best offer to get him. 

Kyle Lowry is playing his ninth season with the Raptors, having joined the organization in a trade from Houston Rockets in 2012. He earned six All-Star nods in Toronto and helped the franchise win an NBA title in 2019.

While Lowry established himself as one of the franchise legends, the Raptors’ decision to move him isn’t surprising. Toronto is seemingly heading towards a soft rebuild, and getting assets for a 34-year-old player on an expiring contract would be a great way to kick start the process.

Norman Powell, who is currently playing his best NBA season and averaging 19.5 points per game, is also heading towards free agency. Powell is expected to reject his player option and explore the market, where he’ll likely find offers that the Raptors will have a hard time matching.

The post Raptors Looking to Trade Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors will be missing their two key starters for the upcoming stretch of games. The team announced over the weekend that All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry and forward Serge Ibaka are out with injuries.

Lowry and Ibaka both went down in the second quarter of Friday’s 122-104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

According to the team’s announcement, Lowry suffered a broken thumb and will be out at least two weeks. The team plans to reevaluate him after that.

Ibaka, on the other hand, sprained his ankle after trying to contest a layup. He is currently listed as “out indefinitely,” with the team hoping the get a more clear timetable following further evaluation.

Kyle Lowry has been playing great at the start of the season, averaging 21.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.1 steals. On top of that, Lowry has been also shooting impressive 42.6 percent from the three-point line.

Serge Ibaka has been averaging 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Toronto Raptors are currently second in the Eastern Conference with 6-2 record. They have a five-game stretch on the road in front of them, which starts against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The post Raptors’ Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka Suffer Injuries appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors’ point guard Kyle Lowry won’t be a part of the 2020 free agent class after all. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Lowry received a one-year extension from the Raptors, which now keeps him under contract until the summer of 2021.

Lowry’s agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed on Monday that his client has a new deal in place. The extension is reportedly worth $33 million.

Talkin to ESPN, Bartelstein was especially appreciative of Raptors’ president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster’s willingness to get the deal done.

“We are so appreciative of how Masai and Bobby handled every aspect of this negotiation,” – said Bartelstein. “Once again, they displayed how they look after their players in a first-class manner, especially someone like Kyle who they recognize has such a legacy with the franchise.”

Kyle Lowry’s representatives and Raptors’ front office have been working on the extension for several months now. Both sides wanted to get the deal done before the start of the season, and ensure that the 33-year old All Star remains with the organization which he helped won their first NBA title last season.

Lowry joined the Raptors from Houston Rockets in 2012. He managed to establish himself as one of the team’s key players since then, and has been Toronto’s leader on and off the court. During his time with the organization, he managed to make five All-Star appearances.

Lowry averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game past season. He added 15.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists in the postseason.

The post Raptors Sign Kyle Lowry to a 1-Year, $33 Million Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Los Angeles Lakers are heading into this summer with an intention to pair LeBron James with a second (and possibly a third) star in an attempt to construct a championship contender. While their main focus will be free-agency and getting Anthony Davis, the team will also explore swapping their young stars for proven veterans. Reportedly, one of the veterans Lakers are interested in trading for is Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry.

According to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, Lakers will pursue a trade for Lowry in case that Kawhi Leonard leaves Toronto in the summer. If this happens, the Raptors will presumably head into a rebuild and Lowry might find himself on the chopping block considering his expiring contract and trade potential.

For Lakers, getting Kyle Lowry would make sense as the team needs shooters, playmaking abilities, and someone who can play without the ball; and Lowry checks all these boxes. Also, trading for Lowry wouldn’t require the team to give up many of their prized assets. Finally, Lowry is becoming a free agent in 2020 so the Lakers could have enough cap space to pursue another max free agent.

Lowry played 65 games for the Raptors in the regular season and averaged 14.2 points, 8.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

Other players that Lakers might target besides Lowry according to Deveney include Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal and Utah Jazz’s Derrick Favors.

The post Lakers Reportedly Interested in Trading for Raptors’ Kyle Lowry appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors finished the regular NBA season as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference with a 59-23 record. They posted a franchise record for most wins in a regular season and were tied with Houston Rockets as the NBA’s best team at the home court. Still, that didn’t matter much to Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, who called the season a “wasted year” after his team was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

“We felt like we could possibly make the NBA Finals,” – said Lowry during the Raptors’ exit interviews. “That was our goal.“

Toronto Raptors’ hopes of the for NBA Finals vapored away on Monday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the elimination Game 4 in a big fashion, 128-93. Kyle Lowry only had five points in this game alongside four rebounds and 10 assists. This was the third straight season that the Raptors are being eliminated by the Cavs and LeBron James in the playoffs.

“To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” – Lowry added. “We’ve continuously failed against the team that made the Finals the last three years.“

His teammate DeMar DeRozan also feels bad about the defeat.

“This is probably the toughest, most frustrating, difficult, lowest feeling I’ve had,” – said DeRozan. “You get to that point where you’re standing firm through everything and you feel like you can’t get knocked down again, and you realize you do get knocked back down again. It’s kind of the worst feeling.“

It looks like all the good that Toronto Raptors did this regular season was erased with their poor performance in the playoffs. Sources close to the Raptors are reporting that the front office is preparing some major changes and are even considering replacing NBA Coach of the Year candidate Dwane Casey. There are also talks that the team might consider resetting their roster. Whether this turns out to be true or not, the Raptors are facing another challenging offseason in which they will try to find the way to beat The King.

The post Raptors’ Record-Breaking Season a “Wasted Year” After Early Playoff Exit Says Kyle Lowry appeared first on SportzBonanza.