Fansided

NBA Free Agency: Top 10 2014 free agents

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 6, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (center) stands between Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (left) and Miami Heat forward LeBron James (right) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Miami won 102-91. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (center) stands between Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (left) and Miami Heat forward LeBron James (right) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Miami won 102-91. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next
free agency
Apr 30, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) prepares to shoot a free throw against the Brooklyn Nets in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Brooklyn 115-113. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Kyle Lowry:

Much like Stephenson, Kyle Lowry’s built quite an off-the-court reputation for himself as well. However, unlike Stephenson, Lowry is coming off a season in which his attitude and all those non-basketball issues drastically improved. Lowry was already a good player, but with a better demeanor and no rumors about chemistry issues with his teammates, it all translated into the best (and healthiest) season of his career.

Lowry averaged 17.9 points, 7.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds per game (all career highs) this year while also chipping in 1.5 steals per game and shooting 38 percent from three-point range. He’s a bullish defender who loves harassing opposing point guards on one end and taking it to them on the other end. He was the maestro in Toronto who orchestrated the Raptors’ offense and was an egregious All-Star snub (mostly because he played in the East, but still).

Now an unrestricted free agent, Lowry played 79 games this season, the most he’s played in since he played all 82 with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007-08. That’s pretty great news for a guy whose nagging injuries have sidelined him for 130 games since that season. The Miami Heat have a strong interest in Lowry, but even if LeBron James doesn’t want the max contract he deserves, the Toronto Raptors should re-sign him today for around $12 million per year, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein: