[Woj] Rockets made trade deadline bid for Lowry who wishes he did things differently in Houston

Trade for Lowry, Budinger and Hayes DEERP!

 

It's nice to see that Lowry has matured. It's even Nicer that Houston didn't have to deal with 2 seasons of his "growing" process. Lowry was a head case when he left, and a head case all of last year. Houston avoided a train wreck and let someone else deal with his NBA adolescence.

I think it's clear that Lowry is NOT the same person or player that he was in Houston. That makes him a higher value and much better player than he was during his stint in Houston.

That said, given that Lowry has grown and found his groove, I find it hard to believe that the Raptors are the slightest bit interested in letting him go. They're already talking about him as a long term piece in their bid to build a contender.

If the season had continued to fall apart post-Gay I think Houston would have had a good shot at getting Lowry and/or Amir Johnson.

As it stands now with the Raptors playing legitimate play off level basketball, I don't see the Raptors giving up Lowry or Johnson short of getting back a king's ransom in return, especially with Ujiri running the show. Ujiri is one of the smartest GM's in the NBA, and unlike certain other teams, I just don't see Morey completely fleecing them.

IF Morey really wants Lowry, I think his best shot is during FA... however, it won't be easy. And I suspect Lowry is lower on the priority list than other FA's that will be available like Melo.

 

Lowry was one of my favorite players, but you have to take things like this with a grain of salt. He's campaigning for a contract next year. Assuring other teams that he has matured is of course part of that, but who knows what will happen if he doesn't get his way with his coach next year.

 

If we could get Lowry back... He is exactly what this team has needed . I think he would compliment Harden and Howard alot more than both Beverly and Lin.

 

It will be interesting to see if it looks like Melo is going elsewhere or resigning with New York, would the Rockets look at going after Lowry in free agency?

Even without moving Lin or Asik, the Rockets will have the ability to offer their full mid-level exception which I believe is something around 5 million dollars in year one.

I know what people are going to say here which is "No way Lowry takes anything less than 10 mil a year" but here me out.

Please tell me what team with cap space other than Houston and Toronto that really feels like they need Lowry to put them over the top, and what rebuilding team would really be interested in tieing up a huge amount of money in a veteran like Lowry? Even Toronto really isn't "over the top" with Lowry to begin with.

Also keep in mind that alot of these same teams with cap space like the Lakers or Dallas will probably want to keep their cap cleared beyond this next year to make a run at Kevin Love.

Really... IMO, I see it coming down to a two horse race if the Rockets want to be in the running, and if Toronto is really not wanting to go too crazy to keep him, they might offer him something like 4 years 33 million. The Rockets with the full mid-level should be able to get in the mid 20's. Thats a decent drop off, but I would say that its something Lowry should definitely consider since the cost of living in Toronto & the Canadian tax situation really makes 30 million more like 25 million when its all said and done anyways.

-Then there is the case where the Rockets might actually be able to move one of Lin and/or Asik to make cap room to sign Lowry to a deal larger than the MLE which would probably require a pick being sent along with Lin if he's the ideal player to move to make necessary cap space.

I personally think the Rockets have their eyes set a bit higher for Love or Melo, but you never know how things change on a dime in the NBA. If Melo resigns with NY, and Love looks to be Hollywood bound, do the Rockets make a move this Summer to try and get Lowry??? I dunno.

 

No way Lowry takes anything less than 10 mil a year

 

Did you read what I just wrote? I even said that people would say exactly what you said.

Tell me what team is paying Lowry 10 million a year, if they have the ability to offer that contract, and what is their motivation to do so?

-For the record, yes I believe Lowry is absolutely worth 10 million a year, but there is this thing called supply and demand that will dictate if he gets what he's worth.

 

Toronto

 

Why is Toronto offering him that much? Is there competition driving the price up that high? That was sort of the point I was asking. Its a legit question. Not meant to be rhetorical.

 

It just confirms everything I heard and posted prior to the trade deadline. The Rockets tried to get Lowry at the deadline and Lowry would play for McHale.... who is a very good teacher for the Rockets.

Morey still has a hard on for Lowry.

 

Teams that may possibly need a starting point guard:

1. Lakers
2. Magic
3. Bucks (possibly, but with the emergence of Brandon Knight not as probable as before)
4. Toronto
5. Knicks

Sorry...I simply can't see anybody giving Lowry $10 million per season. The market isn't there. Knicks MIGHT do it if they can generate a sign-and-trade. But they have nothing to send to Toronto to make that happen besides possibly Shump and dead money. Lakers would probably like to have Lowry...on a bargain. Magic would possibly be interested...once again if he were a bargain. And like I said above..can't see Milwaukee overpaying for him at this point.

Frankly, I think Lowry will be fortunate to get 3/24 and very, very lucky to get 4/32.

 

Reckon what the Rockets were offering for Lowry??

 

We need to go after him again in the summer, forget about Melo (he would never settle for just a 2nd / 3rd option!).

 

Pretty much my exact thoughts. Lowry is def worth big bucks but the market couldn't be worse for his services, which I said don't rule out the rockets pursuing him because of this.

 

Not going to happen unless he is willing to sign a very, very team friendly contract. Lowry is simply not at that stage of his career. He's going to look for the best combination of salary and winning. I expect Toronto re-signs him for no more than $8 million per season and possibly less.

 

That I don't know, it would be just speculation...

If you believe that Dolan vetoed a Lowry for a #1 and filler from NYC, I wouldn't think anything outrageous.... So far Morey has not offered anything outrageous for anyone he has traded for....

Morey alluded to the fact that he would not offer all his assets for Howard or Bynum when they were dealt a few years ago...

 

While Howard and Harden aren't on the same level as Lebron, Durant or Kobe, Melo did play a more supportive role in international play and thrived. Can we expect the same production from him as a 2nd or 3rd banana? Probably not but it's not out of the question as Melo's never had teammates as good as Harden and Howard in the NBA.

 

Very possible.

The article is nice and makes the reader feel warm and fuzzy.... but I have to believe everyone, including Toronto is taking Lowry's "change" with a grain of salt.

 

Well...I would reckon any trade for Lowry started with Lin...and then we added an asset or two to Lin hoping Toronto would dump Lowry to us.

 

How pissed would Lin be if the year he finally gets his big pay check, he has to go to Canada where they will take a crap ton of it?