Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry is reported to select the opt-out option after the end of the season. He will become a free agent but that doesn't mean he will leave Toronto as he expect to return to play for Raptors.
Lowry is still under contract until 2018 but he is free to opt-out next year, and according to ESPN, he will choose his opt-out option. Lowry will enter the fre agent market along with two other acclaimed point guards whose contract will end next year, LA Clipper's Chris Paul and Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry.
But similar to Curry, who already set to stay with the Warriors, Lowry also intend to re-sign with Raptors. Lowry expects to maximize his contract with Toronto Raptors, as he said in an interview with Yahoo! Sports, just like what Raptors did with his tandem DeMar DeRozan this year.
"If you're that franchise's guy, and you're the guy that they've been rolling with, and you've given that franchise everything you have, yeah, I think the talks]should be easy," Lowry said. "I think it should be a situation where a guy shouldn't have to talk to another team."
Lowry has been with the Raptors since 2012, when he was traded from Houston Rockets in exchange for forward Gary Forbes. Following his arrival, Toronto Raptors has become an elite team in the Eastern Conference. Both Raptors and Lowry needs each other.
Following the end of his contract with the Raptors, Lowry can maximize his option with other teams that need a strong point guard with an ability to make play and score just like him. Team such as Philadelphia 76ers or LA Clippers that has a strong front court, but weak in back court could use his service.
However, Raptors can also trade him to other team. In fact, according to Hoops Habit, it is time for Raptors to seriously consider trading Lowry and to rejuvenate its point guard. Especially Cory Joseph has proven himself to be one of the best backup point guard in the league.
There is still plenty of time before July 1, which marks the end of the third year of Lowry's contract. Therefore, there is also a lot of possibilities for Lowry and Raptors before the 2016-17 season ends.
