Toronto Raptors security guard Kyle Lowry repeatedly insisted on Wednesday evening that he does not know what will happen between now and Thursday’s trading deadline at 3 p.m.
But that didn’t stop an air of finality from hovering over proceedings after a 135-111 win over the Denver Nuggets, as the greatest player in the history of the Raptors franchise spoke to the media about what was likely his last time. will be in a Toronto uniform.
“It was a little strange tonight not to know what the next step would be, just to understand that there are things that could be done,” said Lowry. ‘It was certainly different tonight.
‘I mean, who knows what’s going to happen? Nobody knows what’s going to happen. But it was certainly, no doubt, different. ‘
Although the Raptors’ win broke a nine-game series loss, securing their first win since February. On October 26, the post-game focus was almost exclusively on what will happen on Thursday, when the Raptors won’t play, but potentially trade two tough members of the team’s hugely successful streak of last seasons at Lowry and point guard Norman Powell .
Both players have contracts nearing expiration, and with Toronto plummeting in the East standings and in the middle of a season in Tampa, Florida due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they come in on Thursday as two of the best players to possibly play. exchange.
It was an opportunity big enough for Canadian icon and frequent Raptors fan Drake on the pitch to speak to Lowry via FaceTime in the middle of his post-game press session and offer to translate his responses to the media, a offer that Lowry declined.
Lowry began his press session by greeting the five women from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment: Meghan McPeak, Kia Nurse, Kate Beirness, Amy Audibert and Kayla Gray, who previously became the NBA’s first all-female broadcast team. He spoke fondly of his time in Toronto. He shared how, after a few bumpy early years in his career, he found a home with the Raptors, the team that made him a star and future Hall of Famer, winning a championship two seasons ago.
“Well I guess if you go back [el entonces gerente general de los Raptors] Bryan Colangelo traded me in to become – unfortunately they lost Steve Nash – and he traded me in to be point guard, ” Lowry said, referring to the exchange that brought him to Toronto from Houston in 2012. ‘ The exchange was made for me. Keys. And honestly, you know, I wanted to take advantage of it.
“I think it just clicked more on the fact that, you know, they believed in me, right, the organization believed in me from top to bottom … everyone from top to bottom believed in me and what I could do. an individual player and as a leader, so I think that would really help, you know, a little bit, you know, click on everything, put it all together. “
The same sentimentality about Lowry’s time in Toronto also translated into his teammates and coaches, all of whom came to Toronto after Lowry did.
“We really developed together,” said Raptors coach Nick Nurse. “I always say that when he was the first time, when I came here, I was new to the NBA and he wasn’t really a starting player, as a legitimate starter.
“So it’s that growth to six-time stellar, Olympic gold medalist and NBA title that is really great for Kyle Lowry, I think. Raptors records, I think he will be the best Raptor ever. Times so far.”
However, Lowry wasn’t the only one who may have faced his final night as Raptor. Powell, who has only played for Toronto in his six NBA seasons, could also be on the move tomorrow.
He said the strangest part of the days and weeks leading up to Thursday’s deadline was hearing his name not in the media, but in conversations he had with members of the Toronto organization about what it will be like for him to be elsewhere. to play.
“To be honest, I didn’t watch SportsCenter,” Powell said. “I don’t see a lot of things. I mean, it’s strange around me. I feel like some people in the organization are always asking me what could happen, this, that, and that. But I tell them the same thing every day. of the people in the organization, our medical staff were excited and things like that, and I tell them to relax and calm down.
“But it’s a business. You build contacts with people … it doesn’t really bother me in any way. Whatever happens, I can’t talk about emotions that aren’t there right now. I’m going to wait and see like everyone else. “.
However, things are different for Lowry, whose transformation from NBA drifter to All-Star and champion reflects the Raptors’ rise from a forgotten franchise to one that has been a constant winner for the past few seasons. While he and his teammates haven’t played a game in Toronto for over a year, he has forged a bond that adds extra meaning to what’s happening on Thursday.
Lowry, who has said in a previous media session that he will retire as Raptor no matter what on the trading deadline or in free agency this summer, turns 36 on Thursday.
He said he hopes to play golf and will have his phone on, but will just wait to see what his agent, Mark Bartelstein, has to say when he calls, instead of looking at his phone to see what’s going to happen .
Whatever he hears, Lowry said he will be happy with the jersey he puts on after Thursday’s deadline has passed.
“Whatever it is, it will be fair,” he said. “That’s the truth. Whatever it is, it will be. At the end of the day, everything happens for a reason. You can’t control everything and in some situations you can, but every decision that has been made, I have a choice.” has worked very well for me and everything will be fine.
“Everything will be fine in the end, no matter what.”
And when he’s no longer in Toronto, Lowry will leave an indelible mark on a franchise he’s made over the past eight seasons.
“I complimented him as much as I can, [y] I certainly don’t mind, “said the nurse.” My one comment I always make, which I think is the highest compliment I give him, is that he plays harder than anyone I’ve ever seen.
“On court training or coaching against or watching games or whatever, he’s playing harder than anyone I’ve ever seen. I can’t give him a greater compliment than that.”