NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 reasons Kyle Lowry should leave the Toronto Raptors

Kyle Lowry has a decision to make about whether or not he picks up his player option with the Toronto Raptors. Here are five reasons he should leave.

Kyle Lowry is entering the final year of his contract with the Toronto Raptors, but has one week to decide whether or not he picks up the player option on the deal, or book it out of “The Six”.

The point guard and his team got swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and left their home arena with their tail tucked between their legs. Lowry averaged 20 points a night in the series’ first two games in Cleveland, and recorded a double-double in Game 1.

However, Lowry missed Games 3 and 4 due to an ankle injury, and could’ve possibly played his last minutes as a Raptor without even knowing it.

While there’s obviously the desire to stick around with the team that’s groomed you, and continue to team up with his friend and fellow Raptors stud DeMar DeRozan, there’s greener pastures elsewhere. Here’s five reasons Lowry should leave Toronto:

5. Potential hometown reunion

The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that have become one of the top candidates, should Lowry leave Toronto for a new home this offseason.

Between the Sixers and Los Angeles Lakers, both teams provide enticing options for the point guard, as both teams are searching for that dominant floor general who can take over a game and lead young squads.

However, Philadelphia provides a more intriguing pitch for Lowry, as it represents his hometown team and his former college home at Villanova. Like the Kevin Durant free agency fiasco from the last offseason, the 76ers provide a relationship where both parties would benefit largely in different ways. The Sixers would gain that guard they need to go alongside young stars like Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and company. On the other end, Lowry plays for his hometown team, gets some big bucks, and potentially leads a team to the promised land.

Another key factor in this potential landing spot, and a big reason for Lowry to leave, is the presence of 76ers president and general manager Bryan Colangelo. Colangelo previously had the same titles for the Toronto Raptors, and actually acquired Lowry from the Houston Rockets as one of his big moves with the team. The pre-existing relationship is key, and Colangelo could play a pivotal role in getting Lowry to sign with the Sixers.

The team went 28-54 this past season, which isn’t the strongest selling point for a guard looking for some immediate success, but Lowry may be the piece the Sixers need to complete their “Trust the process” puzzle.