Toronto Raptors

The Los Angeles Clippers are throwing their hat in the ring for Toronto Raptors star Kyle Lowry, according to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.

It appears the Philadelphia 76ers are out of the hunt after ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported they lined up a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder for George Hill. That would leave the Clippers jostling with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat for Lowry.

Lowry's departure from Toronto is becoming more and more of a foregone conclusion.

The 35-year-old is on an expiring contract, and the Raptors are sellers at the deadline since they sit 11th in the Eastern Conference at 18-26. Per Wojnarowski, Toronto has already agreed to trade Norman Powell to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Clippers face a clear hurdle on the way to landing Lowry in the form of his $30 million salary. Even if Patrick Beverley ($13.3 million) were included, matching salaries is almost impossible without involving a third team.

The six-time All-Star would address a clear need for Los Angeles.

As great as Beverley is on defense, his offensive limitations become a clear problem in the postseason if he's the starting point guard. 

Despite having Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers averaged the fourth-fewest assists (21.2) in last year's playoffs. The absence of a traditional playmaker was glaring as Leonard in particular had to do too much.

Lowry is not only an excellent facilitator but can score on his own. Opposing teams couldn't play off him in the same way they can with Beverley.

Inconsistency has been a problem for L.A. all year, and it simply can't be ignored with the idea that things will start clicking once the playoffs arrive. Lowry is the kind of veteran the team needs to avoid another disappointing exit before the NBA Finals.

Norman Powell isn't ready for his time with the Toronto Raptors to come to an end even if a number of rival clubs are clamoring for his services ahead of Thursday afternoon's NBA trade deadline.   

Following the Raps' 135-111 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, during which the forward posted 22 points and three assists, Powell made it clear his heart is with his current franchise whether or not his future is. 

"I don't think about it all," he told reporters about the trade rumors. "Other people around me think about it more than me. My roots are here. Given everything I've given to the franchise, I want to stay here."

Powell wasn't the only Toronto player going through it after the game. 

Kyle Lowry has been in just as many trade rumors as Powell—if not more—and had trouble summing up his thoughts on what could possibly be his last few hours with the organization. 

"It was weird tonight not knowing what the next step will be," Lowry said. But when asked about what he hopes for Thursday, the veteran began to trail off. 

"I don't know. I wish I could give you a decision," he added.

Marc Stein of the New York Times reported earlier Wednesday that the number of teams interested in Powell had reached the "teens," though it's still unclear what the asking price is on the young guard with a player option for 2022. 

Depending on where Powell lands, he could opt into next year and earn $11.6 million, or he could decline the option and become an unrestricted free agent at 28 years old and coming off the best year of his career. Neither choice is simple—and neither guarantees future success—but it's a decision worth weighing both for Powell and any team trying to trade for him.

Through 41 games this year, Powell is averaging 19.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He's a bonafide scorer who can help a contender right now. 

And he's just hours away from finding out whether that'll be the case. 

Kyle Lowry may have taken the floor as a member of the Toronto Raptors for the last time in Wednesday's 135-111 victory over the Denver Nuggets.  

"It was weird tonight not knowing what the next step will be," he said after the game, per Mark Medina of USA Today.

Thursday is the NBA trade deadline, and Lowry is a candidate to be moved.

"Usually I'd bulls--t y'all, but it was kind of weird, I'll be honest with you," he told reporters. "Of course it would be crazier if it was in Toronto. Nobody knows what will happen."

Lowry gestured toward the cameras as he walked off the floor and even took a FaceTime call from one of the Raptors' most famous fans:

Kyle Lowry, when he saw the cameras as he walked off the floor tonight for Toronto in Tampa. pic.twitter.com/FHK6q2Mdfe

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) March 25, 2021

Drake wanted to be Kyle Lowry’s translator 🤣 https://t.co/jB8rrF5B4X

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 25, 2021

The point guard is on the final year of his contract for a Raptors team that is 18-26 and on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Lowry turns 35 years old Thursday, but Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported he "wants some indication that a potential destination is willing to give him a two-year extension at a minimum $25 million a year."

The emotion is understandable considering how important he is to the franchise.

He has been with the team since the 2012-13 campaign and quickly became a fan favorite. He is a six-time All-Star who helped the Raptors win the 2019 championship and was an All-NBA selection during the 2015-16 campaign.

Whether he is traded or not, he will forever be a Toronto legend who could very well have his number retired.

Lowry may just be finishing the season on a contender if he is traded.

It sure seems like Kyle Lowry has played his last game for the Toronto Raptors.   

"He'll go down as maybe the greatest Raptor, I think," head coach Nick Nurse told reporters following Wednesday night's 135-111 win over the Denver Nuggets.

It's the sort of comment you might make if a player is about to be dealt amid rampant rumors before Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

And then there was this:

Could this be Kyle Lowry's final game with the Raptors?

(via @TSN_Sports)pic.twitter.com/3q5ZIt7cjk

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 25, 2021

All of the reporting around the Raptors and the trade deadline suggests he could soon be gone:

Sources: Raptors discussing Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell deals on multiple fronts and those talks are expected to extend into Wednesday --- and perhaps even Thursday. Philadelphia, Miami are interested in Lowry, but both have shown restraint in how far they'll go to get a deal.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 24, 2021

Toronto continues to push for Tyler Herro in proposed Lowry deal, it was reiterated to me today. As we've noted, hard to justify that for player turning 35 Thursday, albeit it a very good one

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) March 24, 2021

Woj said not to rule out the Lakers for a Kyle Lowry trade.

WHAT?

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) March 24, 2021

Of note regarding the Kyle Lowry-Lakers rumors: It seems Los Angeles became open to discussing all of Dennis Schroder, Montrezl Harrell and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with rival teams as of Monday night, and that chatter has not since quieted among league executives.

— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) March 24, 2021

League sources say that the #Raptors - with highly coveted trade targets Norman Powell and Kyle Lowry - are “holding up” much of the league because of huge asking prices for Powell and Lowry.

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 25, 2021

If Lowry did play his last game for the Raptors, his final stat line was perfectly indicative of the impact he's had throughout his years in Toronto: eight points, nine assists, five rebounds, a block and a game-high plus-42 rating. 

"He plays harder than anyone I've ever seen," Nurse told reporters Wednesday. "There's no higher compliment I can give than that."

Lowry may not have always stuffed the stat sheet, but he's been a huge reason why the Raptors played in seven straight postseasons and won the title in 2018-19. 

The six-time All-Star joined Toronto in 2012 and played his best basketball for the Raptors, averaging 17.6 points and 7.1 assists per game in his nine seasons with the organization. Before Lowry, the team had reached the postseason just five times and had only one playoff series win to its name.

Since his arrival, they've been a perennial threat. 

But with Lowry set to hit free agency after the season and the struggling Raptors (18-26) building around the talented young trio of Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby, a split before this year's trade deadline makes sense for both sides. 

Lowry can chase another title with a contending team. The Raptors can focus on utilizing their cap space and assets to build around their young trio.

"We've got something that we'll always have, which is that championship run, and that'll always bond us and connect us together," Nurse told reporters.

All good things come to an end. But Lowry will forever be a Raptors legend. 

TSN made NBA history Wednesday.

As Kyle Irving of NBA.com noted, the broadcast of the game between the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors featured women holding every on-air role for the first time.

March 24th, 2021, we watch history. #InternationalWomensDay | #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/fhJyT3dqQx

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 8, 2021

The NBA has its first ever all-female broadcast in league history for the Nuggets-Raptors game 👏 https://t.co/yGoLm65hsY

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 25, 2021

Meghan McPeak and Kia Nurse, who is a member of the Canadian National Team and WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, were in the booth. Kayla Grey was on sideline duties, while the combination of Kate Beirness and Amy Audibert hosted the pregame, halftime and postgame shows.

Irving shared comments from Raptors Vice President of Organizational Diversity and Inclusion John Wiggins:

"We wanted to highlight the contributions that women make individually—across so many broadcasts—by bringing them all together. Yes, we're making a point. We hope this leads to more recognition of the many roles women play in pro sports.

"And we especially hope that one of the takeaways from this is for girls at home who see Meghan or Amy or Kayla and think—hey, I could do that. There's a place for me in sports."

McPeak was on play-by-play duties, a role she does for the WNBA's Washington Mystics and the Washington Wizards' G League affiliate Capital City Go-Go.

Nurse is a WNBA All-Star who won two Women's National Basketball League championships.

The Toronto Raptors are reportedly fielding calls from more than 10 teams interested in Norman Powell as the trade deadline looms on Thursday, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times. 

The shooting guard is averaging 19.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 41 games this season—including 30 starts. As Powell works on putting together a career year in scoring, the Raptors can't help but listen to offers for the 27-year-old. 

The UCLA product holds a player option for the 2021-22 season which would pay him $11.6 million should he decide to exercise it. If not, he'll become an unrestricted free agent after this year and could cash in on the open market. 

For a 17-26 Raptors team on the outside of the playoff picture looking in—and with plenty of trade candidates on the roster—moving Powell and earning a return now may be worth more than potentially losing him for nothing in free agency. 

Marc Berman of the New York Post reported earlier Wednesday the New York Knicks are one of the teams interested in Powell, though the franchise doesn't appear willing to give up first-round picks for the guard without assurances he would re-sign in New York. 

Berman further noted the Indiana Pacers could "overpay" Powell in free agency and to NBA scouts who spoke to the Post, it wasn't difficult to see why.

"He's got upside to his game," one NBA scout told Berman. "Plus he has that chip on his shoulder. He plays better than his minutes show. He's shown the ability to be a full-time starter."

With only hours to go until the deadline passes, Powell's future remains very much up in the air as bids continue to roll in for his services. 

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam reportedly crossed the line during his altercation inside the locker room with head coach Nick Nurse following Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, Siakam "went off on" Nurse "loudly and aggressively with words beyond standard cursing. It got personal, lines were crossed and teammates had to intervene, according to multiple sources."

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Tuesday that the Raptors fined Siakam $50,000 for the incident.

Grange provided some context to the situation, noting Siakam spent the fourth quarter of the loss on the bench even when the Raptors made a surge to climb back within striking distance.

He also didn't play during Toronto's Dec. 31 victory over the New York Knicks because he walked off the floor after fouling out when there was still time remaining in the previous game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

"Siakam's been in the crosshairs since he played so poorly after the NBA restarted the 2019-20 season in the bubble at Walt Disney Resort and being sat out and called out by Nurse as the team was struggling to a 2-8 start has had things on simmer," Grange wrote.

It's not exactly surprising there is so much frustration in Toronto.

The Raptors have lost nine consecutive games and fallen out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture entirely. Kyle Lowry may not be on the team anymore following Thursday's trade deadline, and the entire franchise feels like it is in something of a transition period away from the 2019 championship era.

Siakam is averaging 19.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game this season behind a career-worst 44.7 percent mark from the field.

The Toronto Raptors have discussed deals involving guards Kyle Lowry and Norman Powell on "multiple fronts" ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

"Those talks are expected to extend into Wednesday—and perhaps even Thursday," Wojnarowski tweeted. "Philadelphia, Miami are interested in Lowry, but both have shown restraint in how far they'll go to get a deal.

"Beyond Lowry, Sixers have shown interest in other guards available in the marketplace—including Powell, Lonzo Ball and George Hill, sources said."

The 2020-21 season has been disastrous for the Raptors, who have been playing their home games in Tampa, Florida, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have lost nine straight to fall to 17-26 and 11th in the Eastern Conference, just outside the postseason play-in tournament seeds.

Toronto entered Tuesday 2.5 games behind the 10th-place Indiana Pacers for one of those spots, so its season isn't over. But the East is shaping up to be a three-team race between the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. The Raps aren't anywhere near that upper echelon.

They have 29 regular-season games left, but Toronto may be best served looking toward the future.

Losing Lowry and Powell would be a blow considering their roles on the 2018-19 champion Raptors. That would especially be the case for Lowry, who has made six All-Star Games during his nine years with Toronto. The Raps made the playoffs in seven of Lowry's first eight seasons with the team too.

The former Villanova star, who will turn 35 on Thursday, is averaging 17.6 points, 7.4 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game.

The 27-year-old Powell is posting 19.5 points on 49.5 percent shooting (43.4 three-point percentage). He's arguably having the best season of his six-year career and could be a great asset to a contending team, much like Lowry.

Either player could fit on the 76ers, whom Wojnarowski mentioned as a possibility. Lowry, a Philadelphia native, would join the starting backcourt for a team holding a one-game edge atop the East. If Powell goes to Philadelphia, he could slide in as the 2-guard beside Ben Simmons or work as the sixth man.

Lowry or Powell would provide a huge boost for the Sixers, who could stand to improve on offense (13th in offensive rating).

The Raptors are set to host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, marking Toronto's last game before the trade deadline.

If Kyle Lowry is traded, he reportedly would like some assurances from his new team that a notable contract will be waiting for him.

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat are two teams who have discussed a potential Lowry trade with the Toronto Raptors. The Villanova product "wants some indication that a potential destination is willing to give him a two-year extension at a minimum $25 million a year," Pompey wrote.

This is the final year of Lowry's deal with the Raptors.

A max contract extension would be notable for the point guard considering he turns 35 years old Thursday.

However, he has remained productive this season with 17.6 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals a night in 36 games. He is also shooting 39.1 percent from three-point range and is someone who could play off Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in Miami or Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid in Philadelphia.

Trading Lowry would further signal the Raptors are folding on the season at 17-26.

They are the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference and would not even qualify for the play-in tournament between the Nos. 7-10 teams at this point. It may be time to start looking toward the future, and moving Lowry for draft capital or younger players could help in that regard.

It also wouldn't change his status as a Raptors legend.

Since he joined the team prior to the 2012-13 campaign, Lowry won a championship, was named to an All-NBA third team and made six All-Star teams.

Whether that resume is worth a max extension at this point of his career for a different team remains to be seen, but that is apparently what he is looking for in any trade.

If the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat are going to make a trade involving Kyle Lowry, they reportedly will have to figure out whether Tyler Herro will be included.  

According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, Herro is the "sticking point" in trade discussions that would send Lowry to the Heat. Grange explained Miami is willing to give up Duncan Robinson, but the Raptors would prefer Herro.

That Miami is more willing to trade Robinson is no surprise.

After all, he is scheduled for restricted free agency this offseason. By contrast, Herro has a club option for 2022-23 and would be a restricted free agent for the 2023-24 campaign. Not only is Herro under team control for longer, but the 21-year-old is also much younger than the 26-year-old Robinson.

This report comes after Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported the Heat were pursuing Lowry "harder than anyone" in the league.

Whether he is traded or not, the Villanova product will always be a Raptors legend. He has been with the team since the 2012-13 campaign and has a championship, six All-Star selections and an All-NBA third-team honor (2015-16).

However, Toronto is the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference at this point and may decide it is time to start rebuilding for the future prior to Thursday's deadline.

The younger Herro is someone who can help it do just that, while Lowry is a veteran leader with championship experience who could step right into Miami's rotation and provide critical assistance to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo as they look for their second straight NBA Finals appearance.