Raptors GM Ujiri: Negotiations easy 'if we want Kyle here and Kyle wants to be here'
As the players cleaned out their lockers at the Air Canada Centre on Monday, the media wondered how many of the surprising Toronto Raptors core would be back for 2014-15.
While many key pieces are under contract for next season, three key contributors are free agents in point guards Kyle Lowry and Greivis Vasquez and power forward Patrick Patterson. Lowry is the only unrestricted one, however, and he's set to cash in after a fantastic season.
The team, however, sure sounds like they believe they can convince Lowry to come back into the fold despite a potentially impressive list of suitors.
"It's very important," Masai said of re-signing Lowry. "Negotiating is easy for me if we want Kyle here and Kyle wants to be here"
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) May 6, 2014
Fellow cog DeMar DeRozan also seemed convinced, saying "Because, no" when asked why he's not worried about losing Lowry. "Why would he leave?"
Lowry, meanwhile, was less committal in his response:
Of course I can see myself back. We just went to Game 7, first round. Nobody expected us to be there. Of course I can see that.
At the end of the day, it's still a business and you have to be a businessman for the situation that you're in. But I am very happy. This has been one of the best seasons I've had, through and through. Best coaches, teammates, [front office]. It's been great. I am happy. Without a doubt, I can say I'm happy.
The expectation is that Lowry's camp will open negotiations in the four-year, $60 million area, while the Raptors will table something far more modest. Just as important will be other moves the Raptors may make, as Lowry clearly wants to win.
In terms of suitors he may have, only a handful of teams have both cap space and a need at point guard, though both of those factors are often fluid once the offseason begins.
| Team | 2014-15 PG | Cap Estimate ($M)* |
|---|---|---|
| ATL | Teague | 13 |
| BOS | Rondo | 6.6 |
| BRK | Williams | 0 |
| CHA | Walker | 18.2 |
| CHI | Rose | 0 |
| CLE | Irving | 16.7 |
| DAL | Calderon | 31 |
| DEN | Lawson | 0 |
| DET | Jennings | 21 |
| GSW | Curry | 11.5 |
| HOU | Beverley/Lin | 0 |
| IND | Hill | 0 |
| LAC | Paul | 0 |
| LAL | Nash | 26.9 |
| MEM | Conley | 0 |
| MIA | 0 | |
| MIL | Knight | 16.2 |
| MIN | Rubio | 0 |
| NO | Holiday | 7.2 |
| NYK | Felton | 0 |
| OKC | Westbrook | 0 |
| ORL | Oladipo/Nelson | 15.1 |
| PHI | Carter-Williams | 31.6 |
| PHX | Dragic | 30.7 |
| POR | Lillard | 0 |
| SAC | Thomas | 0 |
| SAS | Parker | 8.8 |
| TOR | 11.8 | |
| UTA | Burke | 31.1 |
| WAS | Wall | 16.7 |
*Based on data from Basketball Reference, assuming a $63.2 million salary cap and that all ETOs are declined and options exercised, for simplicity.
Working in Lowry's favor, however, is an incredibly thin crop of available point guards.
| Team | Player | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| TOR | Kyle Lowry | Unrestricted |
| PHX | Eric Bledsoe | Restricted |
| SAC | Isaiah Thomas | Restricted |
| BRK | Shaun Livingston | Unrestricted |
| TOR | Greivis Vasquez | Restricted |
| MIA | Mario Chalmers | Unrestricted |
| SAS | Patty Mills | Unrestricted |
| MIL | Ramon Sessions | Unrestricted |
| LAC | Darren Collison | Unrestricted |
| CHI | D.J. Augustin | Unrestricted |
| DEN | Nate Robinson | Unrestricted |
| LAL | Jordan Farmar | Unrestricted |
| DAL | Devin Harris | Unrestricted |
| CHI | Kirk Hinrich | Unrestricted |
| GSW | Steve Blake | Unrestricted |
| POR | Mo Williams | Unrestricted |
| BOS | Jerryd Bayless | Unrestricted |
| MEM | Beno Udrih | Unrestricted |
| NO | Brian Roberts | Restricted |
| ATL | Shelvin Mack | Restricted |
| DEN | Aaron Brooks | Unrestricted |
| CHA | Luke Ridnour | Unrestricted |
| MIA | Toney Douglas | Unrestricted |
Should Lowry leave, the Raptors will have a much different identity next season. But how could he go anywhere, because he the north, right?