Toronto Raptors wanted Kyle Lowry to backup Steve Nash

Come the 2013-14 NBA trade deadline, it appeared as if the Toronto Raptors would trade point guard Kyle Lowry. But after Toronto sent Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings, the Raptors started winning and much of it was attributed to Lowry’s solid play.

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That lead to Kyle Lowry re-signing with the Toronto Raptors this offseason though that almost didn’t happen as according to Lowry himself, the Toronto Raptors envisioned him backing up Steve Nash until the Canadian-born point guard retired.

“I didn’t want to get traded,” Lowry said. “I knew [Toronto was] trying to get Steve Nash. This is what they said: They wanted Steve Nash to be the point guard for two years and then me learn behind Nash and to get paid and be the starter after Steve called it a career. I said, ‘No, I don’t want to be a backup. You’re not trading for me to be a backup.’ They did the trade anyway, but they didn’t get Steve.”

Lowry was acquired via trade from the Houston Rockets in 2012 and it’s assumed that’s the same time the Toronto Raptors were attempting to acquire Steve Nash, who was a member of the Phoenix Suns. Nash was signed-and-traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on the same day Lowry was sent to the Raptors.

Given Nash’s injury problems with the Lakers, it’s likely the Toronto Raptors see the move (or lack of) as a bullet dodged.

It’s been previously stated that the Toronto Raptors do have a front office job awaiting Steve Nash once he does retire, which he’s expected to do at season end.

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