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Kyle Lowry: 5 potential landing spots in free agency

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 18, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) in action against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 94-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) in action against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 94-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kyle Lowry
Jan 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) reacts on the court against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at Air Canada Centre. The Spurs won 108-106. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports /

1. San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs need a franchise point guard to serve as Tony Parker‘s successor until Dejounte Murray is NBA-ready. Kyle Lowry needs to get away from LeBron and join a team that’s ready to contend during what’s left of his prime.

This isn’t rocket science.

While Lowry taking a well-deserved pay raise by re-signing in Toronto would be perfectly understandable, in San Antonio he would provide Kawhi Leonard with another two-way threat, and one that could take the pressure off the Claw to do everything on the offensive end.

Gregg Popovich has always worked wonders with D-League prospects and unknown names from overseas, so the idea of him having another All-Star point guard under his tutelage would be a frightening one for the rest of the league…and possibly even the Warriors.

Patty Mills may have played himself out of the Spurs’ price range, especially with more talented point guards like Lowry and Chris Paul set to hit the open market. Murray isn’t ready yet, and at age 34 and coming off a season-ending injury that could require eight months of recovery time, Tony Parker may never be the same as his steady decline continues.

Having Lowry at the 1 with TP and Murray backing him up off the bench adds even more depth to this Spurs team. San Antonio would have to really work to clear out enough cap space to sign him to a fair deal, meaning they’d have to let Mills walk and hope Pau Gasol declines his $16.2 million player option for 2017-18.

But the Spurs deftly maneuvered to clear out room for LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015, and though they sacrificed plenty of bench depth to make that happen, they bounced back once again with one of the league’s best second units over the last two seasons. Never doubt Pop and R.C. Buford’s ability to make it happen again.

Next: 5 potential landing spots for Gordon Hayward in free agency

Though Lowry would then get to experience the bandsaw that is the Golden State Warriors out West, it’d get him away from LeBron, allow him to play on a championship-caliber team and still earn him a decent enough contract. If he places winning a ring above a max pay day and everything else, this is the winning move.