Raptors find consolation prize in Lowry?
Houston Rockets' Kyle Lowry slaps hands with a teammate after making a basket during the first half. (Jan. 3, 2012) Credit: AP
After losing out on Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Raptors are reportedly close to acquiring a new starting point guard.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that the Rockets and Raptors are involved in discussions that would send breakout star Kyle Lowry to Toronto in exchange for a first-round draft pick and Gary Forbes.
Lowry, 26, busted out of the gates during the 2011-12 season with a dynamite start. He averaged 15.6 points, 7.6 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 32 games prior to the All-Star break, manning the point for the Houston Rockets. However, Lowry was felled with an illness shortly after, and when he returned, he had lost his starting job to Goran Dragic.
The move seems to be a peculiar one for the Rockets. Houston just lost Dragic to the Phoenix Suns, and is now more or less left without a starting point guard. They have reportedly offered restricted free agent Jeremy Lin a lucrative deal, but the Knicks are still expected to match any offer Lin receives after missing out on both Nash and Jason Kidd.
