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NBA Free Agency 2017: Blake Griffin and the 10 biggest player option decisions

By John Buhler

Apr 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) reacts to a foul call in the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Clippers won 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) reacts to a foul call in the second half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. Clippers won 115-104. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kyle Lowry, Celtics
Apr 15, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) during a break in the action against the Milwaukee Bucks in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Milwaukee defeated Toronto 97-83. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kyle Lowry

Point Guard, Toronto Raptors

Since he is only scheduled to make $12 million in the final year of his contract with the Toronto Raptors, we have to expect point guard Kyle Lowry to opt out. He signed that four-year deal worth $48 million before becoming a perennial All-Star point guard and an Olympic gold medalist.

Toronto has been very good to Lowry, so it would be shocking to see him leave The North to play elsewhere in 2017 NBA free agency. This is especially true given his strong working relationship with shooting guard DeMar DeRozan.

DeRozan hit unrestricted free agency last summer before inking a five-year deal with the Raptors. He too is a perennial All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist. Toronto is in a good spot to lock up both of its elite backcourt starters for the long-term. The question comes down to if they can retain power forward Serge Ibaka for whom they traded for mid-season in this upcoming free agency period.

The point guard market is talented, but also very deep. Is Lowry worth more than the $12 million he is set to make should he opt in? Without question hesitation, yes! However, will the Raptors have enough capital to re-up with both Lowry and Ibaka this summer? Toronto is close, but not quite as talented as LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.

While Lowry will surely opt out, it would not be shocking to see him sign a two-year deal with a player option for 2018-19. That way he can make more than the $12 million he’d be on the books for opting in, as well as create a year’s worth of separation between he and Ibaka’s long-term deal and two between Lowry’s and DeRozan’s. If Lowry shockingly opts in, then he just really loves the Raptors.

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