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Report: Lowry planned to force trade if Raptors didn't offer extension

Ron Turenne / National Basketball Association / Getty

Kyle Lowry was reportedly ready to force the Toronto Raptors' hand if he didn't get his new deal.

Lowry signed a one-year, $31-million contract extension Monday. However, he was prepared to hold out and attempt to force a trade to a destination of his choosing if he and the Raptors didn't come to terms, sources told Sportsnet's Michael Grange.

The five-time All-Star didn't participate in training camp despite admitting he'd been cleared for contact and was playing golf shortly after undergoing offseason thumb surgery in July. Lowry then ruled himself out of the Raptors' two exhibition contests in Japan this week.

He was the lone Raptor not introduced to the crowd during the team's intrasquad scrimmage in Quebec last Thursday, Grange adds. Lowry was present in the building, however, the Toronto Star's Doug Smith reported at the time.

Lowry is still eligible to be traded this season despite signing his extension, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.

The star point guard averaged 14.2 points and 8.7 assists across 65 regular-season contests in 2018-19. He appeared in all 24 games of the Raptors' championship run, playing an integral role in capturing the franchise's first Larry O'Brien Trophy.

He's now under contract through the 2020-21 season.

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