Lowry believes Toronto 'is the best place to win a ring'
Kyle Lowry bleeds Raptors red, and while there was certainly plenty of financial incentive to re-sign, his commitment to the city and his teammates, as well as his desire to one day become a champion, are what's ultimately keeping him in Toronto.
"I want to continue to lead this organization and this franchise to new heights," Lowry said Friday in a news conference announcing that he is officially back with the Raptors on a reported three-year deal worth a guaranteed $90 million.
"I believe it's the best situation to win a ring. Even if it wasn't, I want to make it that. But I believe this is the best place to win a ring. The East has changed a lot, but I can't worry about what's going on in other teams. I've got to worry about what's going on in my organization, my team, my teammates."
The East has built a reputation for being the weaker of two conferences, and with All-Star talents in Jimmy Butler, Paul George, and Paul Millsap heading West after being dealt by their respective squads, that reputation rings even truer.
Raptors president Masai Ujiri locked up his two biggest free agents of the summer in Lowry and Serge Ibaka, but his roster's depth took a hit by losing both P.J. Tucker (four years, $32 million) to the Houston Rockets, and Patrick Patterson (three years, $16 million) to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Toronto has qualified for the postseason every year since 2014, which is the longest streak in franchise history. It was in 2016 when the Raptors got to the conference finals, taking two games from the Cleveland Cavaliers, only to follow that up this past season by getting swept in the second round by LeBron James and Co.
Ujiri has more moves up his sleeve, undoubtedly, as he continues to build a contender around a core of Lowry, Ibaka, and DeMar DeRozan. That window of opportunity will likely close after three years, though, putting more pressure on the players and management to maximize the potential of this current group with the hope that, if everything falls into place, they can bring the Larry O'Brien trophy to the 6ix.