One of the biggest remaining pieces on the free-agent marketplace, Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, is not going anywhere.
Lowry is staying “Home,” as he put it in the title of a first-person piece authored for The Players’ Tribune to announce his decision.
“It’s right there in the title,” Lowry, who according to multiple reports, will get three years, $100 million, said of “home.”
“At the end of the day, this was an easy decision,” said Lowry, who averaged 22.4 points, 7.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds.
Sunday became a good day for the Raptors as they also locked up another one of their own when power forward Serge Ibaka agreed to return for three years, $65 million.
Lowry had been coveted around the league and was thought to be seeking only a max five-year deal from the Raptors, whose history shows them to be reluctant to go as high as four. But it worked out for the team and the player, who once was nearly a Knick until owner James Dolan interceded and squashed a potential deal.
“I’m coming back to Toronto because my heart is telling me that it’s home,” Lowry wrote.
Elsewhere Sunday, significant agreements included Kyle Korver taking three years and $22 million, according to The Vertical, to remain with the Cavaliers, as well as Paul Millsap agreeing to three years and $90 million to go to Denver, also according to The Vertical. Additionally, Taj Gibson, reportedly will accept two years, $28 million to become the latest ex-Bull to reunite with former coach Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota.
After Lowry, the most intriguing free-agent scenario involves Utah small forward Gordon Hayward.
On Sunday, the jumbotron scoreboard at Fenway Park had a video that was part of the Celtics’ pitch to Hayward. On Saturday, his likeness adorned a banner near AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami where Heat president Pat Riley had his presentation. On Monday, the Jazz will meet Hayward in San Diego, his hometown.
Hayward is a game-changer, is seen as such and is being treated like one.
Hayward is the best player still on the board after Golden State’s Kevin Durant, who really isn’t on the board because formality is all that stands between him and a Warriors reunion. Hayward averaged 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and helped Utah reach the playoffs.
The Deseret News reported Jazz brass, including coach Quin Snyder, general manager Dennis Lindsey, president Steve Starks and members of the owning Miller family, will trek to San Diego, where Hayward has a home.
Hayward and Paul George, who was traded by the Pacers to the Thunder in a surprising prelude to free agency Friday, were seen as targets for the Celtics. So Boston, already the best team in the Atlantic Division, improved on draft night by taking Duke forward Jayson Tatum at No. 3, then looked to make a quantum leap with Hayward. Toronto kept two significant parts.
The Sixers, who drafted Markelle Fultz at No. 1, added J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson in free agency Saturday. The Nets are better with D’Angelo Russell. It could be a long Atlantic Division year for the Knicks.
Late Saturday, Andre Iguodala provided one more reason why the Warriors will repeat as champs when he agreed to re-up for three years, $48 million after meeting with Houston.
The Rockets, though, found a defensive forward. P.J. Tucker, a strong wing defender, agreed to four years and $32 million, The Vertical reported. Houston also figured it out with Nene, who ESPN reported agreed to three years, $11 million. The Rockets originally signed Nene, 34, to four years, $15 million, but a new rule limits the length of contracts that would extend beyond a player’s 38th birthday. So both sides reworked it Sunday.
Elsewhere, Rajon Rondo, recently waived by the Bulls, reportedly expressed interest in the Clippers and rejoining Doc Rivers, with whom he won a title in Boston.