Raptors need to make the right call on trading Kyle Lowry at the deadline

A completely hypothetical conversation between Raptors general manager, Bobby Webster, and Kyle Lowry’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, about Lowry’s future that would fall within the rules of the league’s collective bargaining agreement, including the rules that govern tampering. With the salary cap projected to be around $112 million for 2021-22, adding Lowry around his current salary would take the Raptors very close to that limit. Which is to say, even if Lowry wanting to make $30 million annually for the next two seasons, as was reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer, is a bit ambitious, anything close to that would put very real restraints on what the Raptors can do in a diminished but still interesting free agency class to improve their core. Potential pieces in Kyle Lowry trade Team 1st rounders available* Young prospects Expiring contracts Lakers 27 Horton-Tucker Schroder Clippers None Zubac, Kabengale, Mann Beverley, Williams Denver 21, 26, 27 Porter Jr., Nnaji, Hampton, Bol Millsap, Barton Milwaukee None DiVincenzo Holiday Miami None Herro, Achiuwa, Nunn, Robinson Dragic, Iguodala, Olynyk, Leonard, Bradley Philadelphia 21, 22, 23 Bradley, Thybulle, Maxey Green, Scott Brooklyn None Shamet, Brown Dinwiddie Utah 25, 26, 27 Azubuike, Oni Conley * – In certain cases, other picks can be made available if the protections on already-traded picks are re-negotiated.