2017 NBA free agency: 5 players to stay away from

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Apr 18, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) reacts to a call from an official during second quarter play against Milwaukee Bucks in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Kyle Lowry

It feels odd to put a player like Kyle Lowry on this list, since he is coming off his third consecutive All-Star appearance and has continued to improve every year of his career.

He’s coming off career-highs in points per game (22.4), rebounds (4.8) and three-point percentage (41.2 percent). Lowry’s outside game has come a long way the last few years, which is very impressive.

Outside of last season, Lowry has been pretty healthy the past few years. He’s missed a total of 42 games since the start of 2013-14, but 22 of those games came this past year because of a wrist injury.

He did sprain his ankle at least twice in the playoffs, which limited his effectiveness when he was on the court and caused him to miss some games as well, but Lowry’s age is what lands him on this list.

He’s already 31 years old and will definitely entertain max contract offers. If the Toronto Raptors re-sign him to a five-year deal, which I’m not saying they will, then he will be getting paid over $25 million a year when he’s 34, 35 and 36.

If any other team signs him, they will be able to give him a four-year deal with the same concept. I’m not okay with paying any 34- or 35-year-old player a fourth of the salary cap.

I’m also worried about how Lowry’s body will hold up over the long haul. He’s a bowling ball type point guard who takes a lot of contact on his drives to the rim. That type of contact isn’t sustainable long-term for many players his size.

Lowry will give some team another good couple of years, but his production is sure to slip. When that happens, the team will be regretting they signed up to such a long-term deal.