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But Casey did admit he might have handled things better. “One thing I was guilty of with Kyle is — and I probably hindered him a little bit — was making sure he got the ball to DeMar (DeRozan) first, then to Jonas rolling to the basket because we have all those weapons. “Where Kyle’s strength and his gift is, is attacking the rim, attacking the basket. He stubbornness and his toughness is also a gift.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Dwane Casey, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan 

Kevin Nielsen: BC: We have not engaged in any extension talks with Kyle Lowry. Twitter @KNielsenSN

Toronto Raptors, Kyle Lowry 

Eric Koreen: On Lowry: "I can't say he was ever physically right this year." Twitter @ekoreen

Toronto Raptors, Kyle Lowry 

Lowry said he’s getting more comfortable with each passing game, but he’s not content with the progress he has made. “I’ve been up and down this year due to a few different things, but I still have a lot of optimism for this team heading into next year,” he said. “I’m not where I want to be at all. I’m not doing half the things I think I could do. Maybe not half, but I’m not playing up to my full potential because of the different team and the changing players.” As for next season, Lowry said he’s hopeful of being back and wants to be, but admits that decision is out of his hands. The Raptors have a team option on Lowry they can pick up for $6.21 million Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Kyle Lowry 

Lowry has one year left on a contract that will pay him $6 million next season, although only $1 million of it is guaranteed if the Raptors want to cut him adrift this summer. But having already dealt away Calderon and without significant money to spend in the summer, it seems inconceivable that he won’t be back. And Lowry, as everyone connected with the team is, remains confident in the pieces that are in place. “I’m confident in all my teammates, I think they’re all confident in me and I think we’re all confident in each other,” he said. “We’ve got some young pieces, some learning to do to get better in the summer. . . . We had a disappointing year but we’ll bounce back.” Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Kyle Lowry 

His own words reflect that when he’s asked what he’s learned in his first season with Toronto. “Things just have to be different, things aren’t always going to go the way you think they should go or they may not go the correct way to you, but you’ve got to fight through adversity and keep focused on the biggest prize,” he said this week after a practice here. Toronto Star

Toronto Raptors, Kyle Lowry 

Ross could not crack the Raptors’ small lineup down the stretch, with DeMar DeRozan, Landry Fields and Alan Anderson each playing ahead of him. Valanciunas played a few fourth-quarter minutes with Amir Johnson in foul trouble, but came out in the final stretch. Kyle Lowry’s four final-minute points won the game for the Raptors. “I had to get Jonas out at the end, bless his heart,” Casey said. He said, ‘Coach, [Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson] is coming really fast.’ I said, ‘Guess what: All of them are coming fast.’ … Everything is so fast for rookies. I don’t care who you are, what level of rookie you are: It is a learning experience. National Post

Toronto Raptors, Kyle Lowry, Amir Johnson, DeMar DeRozan, Landry Fields, Alan Anderson, Jonas Valanciunas 

Apparently when the Clippers played Toronto, Billups had dinner with Lowry and impressed upon him that the Raptors must have a lot of faith in him to move Calderon. Billups also suggested he take full advantage of that trust and not screw up the relationship a second time. Sulia

Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors, Jose Manuel Calderon, Kyle Lowry, Chauncey Billups 

Kyle Lowry: I love our fans to death , but booing one of our players isn't cool and it should NOT be done!! Hopefully next game it won't happen!! Twitter @Klow7

Toronto Raptors, Kyle Lowry, Andrea Bargnani 

Alex Kennedy: Sebastian Telfair to TOR makes sense. He's close with Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gay and Alan Anderson. They train together every summer in Las Vegas. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, Las Vegas, Sebastian Telfair, Alan Anderson, Hamed Haddadi 

Lowry, for his part, understands the business side of the league as we approach the trade deadline. The guard maintains he’s happy in Toronto and wouldn’t want a change of scenery but isn’t losing any sleep over the trade rumors being tossed around daily. “It doesn’t bother me at all,” Lowry told HOOPSWORLD on hearing his name mentioned in trade rumors. “It doesn’t. It’s all rumors. Until something happens, it happens. From now until the [trade] deadline, whatever day it is, you’re going to see a million and one rumors. You’re going to hear a million and one rumors.” HoopsWorld

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Kyle Lowry 

Although Lowry has battled an assortment of injuries this season, the seven-year veteran is averaging 13.2 points, 5.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds. “I’ve been traded before at the deadline, so there’s no surprise,” Lowry added. “Anybody can be traded at any time. So you can’t get too high, you can’t get too up and you can’t get too down. You just have to go about your business and be a professional.” HoopsWorld

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Kyle Lowry 

In the days leading up to the Rudy Gay deal, which required Toronto to surrender Jose Calderon, there were rumbles emanating from the league's personnel grapevine suggesting that the Raptors were actually willing to trade both of their point guards -- Calderon and Kyle Lowry -- and not just one or the other. Don't see that happening now, though. Lowry has indeed clashed with Raptors coach Dwane Casey, just as he clashed with Kevin McHale in Houston, but there's also no denying that he's more of an all-around talent than the Spaniard and, in what would appear to be a bonus of sorts, ranks as one of Gay's closest friends in the league. If not the closest. So … The Raptors can only hope that Gay's arrival brings out more of the good Lowry, especially since Toronto surrendered a quality first-round pick to acquire him from Houston last summer. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Kyle Lowry 

Alex Kennedy: It'll be interesting to see Kyle Lowry and Rudy Gay play together. They've been good friends for years. They train together at @impactbball. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Toronto Raptors, Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry 

Michael Grange: Lowry on Rudy: 'I told him it was a first class organization and good to be a part of' #Raptors Twitter @michaelgrange

Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry 

Ryan Wolstat: Lowry won't say much other than Gay is his best friend. Became friends when Lowry was a HS sophomore Twitter @WolstatSun

Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Trade, Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry 

Steve Kyler: Rudy Gay rumors... for what its worth Kyle Lowry and Rudy Gay train together in the off-season @impactbball in Vegas and know each other. Twitter @stevekylerNBA

Memphis Grizzlies, Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry 

Marc Stein: Sense I get is it's far likelier Celts pursue Kyle Lowry and his cap-friendly contract. But do Celts have assets to land Raps PG? We'll see Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors 

Ryan Wolstat: There is a split in organization between Lowry and Calderon. I find that insane based on many things Twitter @WolstatSun

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Jose Manuel Calderon, Kyle Lowry 

Toronto is perhaps the most realistic landing spot for Gasol, given the uncertainty in the organization about whether Andrea Bargnani will ever develop into a star there. Bargnani wouldn't have to be a star in LA. He would simply have to stand at the 3-point line and make shots, a La Howard's former teammate in Orlando, Ryan Anderson. Toronto also has a point-guard problem to solve. And while Jose Calderon has frequently been mentioned as trade bait, league sources say the Raptors are far more amenable to trading Kyle Lowry, who has not made many friends in his new surroundings. The Raptors gave up a sure lottery pick for him (which Houston subsequently sent to Oklahoma City in the James Harden trade), so Gasol might be a way to salvage that transaction. Plus, with the new CBA taking effect and shortening teams' windows for winning, a team like Toronto might feel better about committing 1½ seasons to Gasol than using its cap room this summer to sign a lesser player for four years. CBSSports.com

Toronto Raptors, Trade, Kyle Lowry