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Toronto Raptors re-sign Kyle Lowry, add depth for 2014-15

Roar Rookie
7th July, 2014
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The Toronto Raptors have re-signed Kyle Lowry. Lowry, who should have been an all-star last season, was the Raptors top priority in the off season.

The Canadian-based club has seen off interest from the L.A. Lakers, Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat.

The Raptors have done a great job in signing Lowry to a four-year contract worth $48 million, after the third year he will have the option of an ETO. This will be the best security Lowry has had on team since his career in the NBA started, in career best form last season he averaged 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game – shooting 42.3 per cent from the field and 38 per cent from downtown.

This signing also leaves around $7 million to offer Greivis Vasquez, who averaged 9.5 points, 3.7 assists and 21.5 minutes per game last season and Nando De Colo who averaged 3.1 points, 1.6 assists and 9.2 minutes in 21 games.

Dwight Buycks and Julyan Stone have non-guaranteed contracts worth around $1.7 million, so that should free up enough space for the Raptors to re-sign Patterson and Vasquez.

The Raptors have had a busy week. They traded John Salmons and a second round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Lou Williams and Lucas “Bebe” Nogueria. Salmons is coming to the end of his career, so this trade was inevitable. He averaged only 5 points and 2 rebounds in 60 games with the Raptors last year.

Meanwhile, Williams has averaged 11.4 points and 3.1 assists per game in his career. Now they have some much needed scoring off the bench.

Nogueria was the 16th pick in the NBA 2013 draft by the Boston Celtics but was traded to the Hawks. Nogueria has been playing in Spain with Asefa Estudiantes in Spain’s Liga ACB since 2009 and last season averaged 6.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 16.0 minutes in 18 games.

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The Raptors have also exercised the option on big man Tyler Hansbrough. Hansbrough has recently averaged career low playing minutes but will fill a role off the bench with his physical play like he did last season when he averaged 4.9 points, 4.5 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game.

Patrick Patterson has agreed to a three-year-deal worth $18 million. He is a great addition to the Raptors bench and averaged 8.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game in 63 games played last season.

The Raptors now have a strong roster for next season. They have added stability to this team by re-signing Lowry, added the experience of Williams to the roster and re-signed Hansbrough.

They took a gamble on Nogueria who has potential, drafted Caboclo and now the only thing left is to work out what to do with Vasquez and De Colo.

Well done to the Raptors, who now look set for the 2014-15 NBA season.

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