Yes, the Sixers should pursue Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade

The fanbase was split over the prospect of acquiring Kyle Lowry at the trade deadline. While that eventually fell through, the Sixers‘ pursuit of Lowry isn’t done. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic ($), Lowry is a potential sign-and-trade target for Philadelphia this offseason.

Once again, you can expect many fans to balk at the idea of a Lowry trade. He’s a 6-foot, 35-year-old point guard on a Raptors team that has spiraled out of contention in 2021. While Lowry’s age is a real factor to consider, the Sixers should have no qualms about pursuing him with a hefty purse.

The Sixers should eagerly pursue Kyle Lowry this offseason, when he’s free to pick a team and the Raptors’ leverage is gone.

Inevitably, this will require some clever maneuvering on the part of Daryl Morey, Elton Brand, and the Sixers’ front office. First, they will have to convince Lowry to join the Sixers, rather than join BFF Jimmy Butler in Miami. If Lowry does decide to join the hometown team, then it will take a salary-matching trade, with Danny Green no longer in the equation.

The obvious route is George Hill ($10.5 million) and Seth Curry ($8.2 million), which gets you in the range of a potential Lowry contract next season. It could also require draft capital and potentially a young piece (Tyrese Maxey, Shake Milton, etc), as the Raptors will likely look to rebuild in Lowry’s absence. That said, Toronto’s leverage is virtually zero. Any asset is a good asset.

Age will make Lowry affordable to Philadelphia. If he wants to join the Sixers, the Sixers can probably have him. And yes, the Sixers should — without much hesitation — look to add him. Lowry is aging, but he’s still All-Star caliber with no overwhelming signs of decline. He would bring game-changing creation and shot-making to the perimeter.

On the season, Lowry is averaging 16.8 points and 7.3 assists on 43.1 percent shooting and 38.7 percent from deep. The Raptors’ season has gone south for countless reasons, one of which is the fact that their season literally went south. There’s no Toronto home-court advantage in Tampa Bay. COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into every team’s season, and it’s more likely than not that Toronto is a better team than their record indicates. Simply put, Lowry is not to blame.

The Sixers would have taken a massive step toward title contention with Lowry on the roster this season. The same can be said for next season. Even as Lowry ages, he can push the Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris trio closer to the Brooklyns and LAs of the world.

Also of note is Lowry’s leadership. He is a champion and a proven winner. He’s universally considered to greatest Raptor of all time. He would fit like a glove in Philadelphia’s locker room, and in the broader culture of the city. He’s a Philly kid at heart, and his competitive spirit would bleed into the team dynamic. Re-sign Danny Green, and you have a starting five of Embiid, Simmons, Harris, Green, Lowry — you’re winning plenty of games.

To some degree, the Sixers’ offseason will be informed by the outcome of the playoffs. If Philadelphia gets to the NBA Finals with George Hill and Seth Curry, then the front office may be less inclined to rock the boat. If the Sixers somehow win it all, then the likelihood of change becomes even slimmer.

That said, Lowry would provide a fairly substantial upgrade over George Hill and Seth Curry on both sides of the ball. Even if the Sixers go all the way (which is exceedingly unlikely, even as the potential No. 1 seed), there’s reason to believe Lowry would raise the ceiling even further. We saw the Lakers swing for Dennis Schroder this offseason despite winning a championship. The Sixers shouldn’t sit on their hands for the sake of continuity. Lowry would help the locker room and the on-court product.

Philadelphia can comfortably give Lowry two or three years of $20+ million. The Sixers will have no cap space either way, so they might as well swing big on the All-Star talent that is available. If the Sixers don’t have Lowry, then it’s expiring George Hill and a couple more years of Curry. Fine, but Lowry — again — raises the ceiling in a much bigger way.

There should be no doubt in the Sixers’ minds. If Lowry wants to come to Philly, get him to Philly