The Philadelphia 76ers caught a lot of flak after deciding to bring back veteran guard Kyle Lowry, which is most certainly warranted under the circumstances. The former All-Star turned in his absolutely worst campaign last season, and there was basically no reason to even consider signing him to another deal. Lo and behold, the front office went beyond mere pondering and did it anyway.
The six-time All-Star is on everyone’s depth chart buried as a last resort option as a point guard. Mo, he will — and should — not play much next season, and the expectation is that he will only be there to provide guidance to the team’s litany of guards and be another voice of reason in the locker room, which definitely had its ugly moments last season.
Having said that, with NIck Nurse still the one manning the sidelines, one should probably not rule out the possibility of Lowry still being in the loop when it comes to playing time. No, the veteran will not be forcibly shoehorned to play over the likes of Jared McCain or VJ Edgecombe, but in the right situation, there could be room for his services, even in spurts.
Kyle Lowry could have a role with the 76ers next season
If there is one thing that the 76ers do not have which Lowry can provide, it is playmaking. Philadelphia still has a complete dearth of natural floor generals on their projected usual rotation as the team is still loaded with score-first players who are passable secondary playmakers.
When operating in the half-court, the 76ers need someone who can piece things together and organize the offense. That is where Lowry could be a viable option to stabilize the team’s attack.
Another reason why the former All-Star could sniff the hardwood next season is due to injuries. Well, not actual injuries — the coaching staff will surely try to ease McCain back into his expected load after a major injury, and that means giving Lowry minutes here and there depending on the matchup. There is also the rookie element with Edgecombe, where he could see himself ride the bench at times when he slips up in favor of a proven steady hand like Lowry.
There is still a lot to dislike about the Philadelphia 76ers giving Kyle Lowry another contract, but if used well and sparingly, he could actually end up being a good, stable option off the bench, much to every fan’s surprise.