Kyle Lowry Returned Home After Expecting To Sign With Sixers
Kyle Lowry, a Philadelphia youngster, will soon return home.
With his 38th birthday coming up in a month, Kyle Lowry is no longer quite a child, but he is now ready to sign with the Sixers.
After his acceptance of a contract buyout with the Hornets, Lowry is anticipated to sign with the Sixers, an insider told NBC Sports Philadelphia on Saturday. The story was initially reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Later, Lowry announced the news of his own return home through his agency, Priority Sports:
Kyle Lowry will ink a $2.8 million contract for the remainder of the season, according to Wojnarowski, who was informed by Lowry’s agent, Mark Bartelstein.
Daryl Morey bought Lowry from the Grizzlies fifteen years ago, marking the first trade in Lowry’s NBA career. Lowry has a close relationship with head coach Nick Nurse, as does Sixers president of basketball operations Morey. On the championship-winning 2018–19 Raptors, Lowry started as Nurse’s point guard.
“When I initially came here, Nick was the (Raptors assistant coach) that I worked out and shot with; he was in the system.”
“Therefore, even before he was the head coach, he and I had a terrific relationship. Our mantras about winning and attempting to be creative were always the same. I became closer to Nick, a friend of mine. Additionally, as time passed, our mutual trust grew.”
Lowry said to reporters in 2022.
It is obvious that a major question is how much Lowry can still offer an aspirant challenger. He may not be as good as he once was as an All-Star, but his intelligence, stubborn defense, and all-around tenacity still earn him great respect.
The Sixers are probably counting on Lowry to provide them some solid minutes next to the first-time All-Star and to act as a steady backup point guard to Tyrese Maxey. Cameron Payne, another seasoned ball handler, was added by the Sixers, who traded Patrick Beverley to the Bucks prior to the deadline. How roles, minutes, and optimal lineups break down is still to be determined.
All of that is made more difficult by the fact that Joel Embiid, the current MVP, had surgery on his ailing left knee, forcing him to miss at least the next few weeks of action. Once they formally sign Lowry, the Sixers will still have two unfilled roster spots.
Lowry averaged 28.0 minutes per game in 37 games this season before the Heat traded him to the Hornets in exchange for Terry Rozier. In each game, he averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals.
Despite going 0 for 18 in his final five games with Miami, Lowry’s season three-point percentage dropped to 38.5 percent. Lowry didn’t play in a game since January 21.
He will play for his hometown team the next time he steps onto the court.
