With Lowry on our roster right now, we would have swept the Mavs and would survive at least the next round, in my opinion. All the guys I listed in that trade don't really matter that much. T Jones, yeah, but also replaceable. PG is our glaring weakness. And the 12 million are actually a bargain for Lowry.
The problem with this trade is the Raptors will try to improve this offseason, not dump a significant player for trash. The Raptors need a star, a first option that opponents fear. They are the ones who should put together a package of players for an upgrade in return, not the other way. Unless they decide to go the tank route. That makes your trade idea possible.
It's going to be sad when, in pursuit of assets to trade for a star player, Raptors trade Lowry for a reverse protected lottery pick...
Which "star" can they get, though, and what package can they offer? Everyone wants to make the "Harden trade," but before Houston made the Harden trade, they traded several of their useful players-- the best of whom being the same Kyle Lowry mentioned here-- for future assets that Morey determined to have better value as trade pieces going forward. So, even a team that isn't trying to tank for high picks will find situations in which it is wise to flip a current contributor for a future asset.
