October 2017 | THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Though the Raptors have certainly had a rough start to the season, they have recently been gaining momentum. However, there is still significant room for improvement, and with the trade deadline approaching, there is speculation that Andre Drummond may be on his way to the Raptors. Unfortunately, this will mean saying farewell to a member of the current Raptors team.
During the offseason, the Raptors lost two vital players in Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, leaving a large void in both offensive in-the-paint play and defensive pressure. In return, they acquired Aron Baynes, and while he is a good addition, he has not filled in that gap, averaging only 6 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist (Basketball Reference). Last season, the two big men combined for 23 points, 4 assists and 14 rebounds (Basketball Reference). The Raptors need more from Baynes or must otherwise find another centre to produce where he cannot.
Andre Drummond, who is negotiating his future with the Cleveland Cavaliers, just might be on the move. Initially, a move to the Nets was rumoured (Nets Daily), but the Raptors may have a chance of snatching the big man in a trade or offering him a hard to resist contract in case he is bought out (Sportsnet). Drummond might be exactly what the Raptors need to re-establish their championship hope. However, Drummond has a gigantic contract, and to match that they risk losing a franchise veteran in Lowry. Although the Raptors need a centre, is it beneficial if they give up Lowry? Drummond averaged 17.5 points on a near 48% shooting along with 13.8 rebounds compared to Lowry’s 18 PPG, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on 47% shooting. (Basketball Reference)
A key to today's game is three-point shooting, a skill Drummond does not possess. Lowry, on the other hand, shoots at an efficient 40%. Additionally, when it comes to knocking down free throws, Lowry shoots 86.3% compared to Drummonds 59.7%. Furthermore, Lowry can create shots for himself and his teammates 3-times better, at 6.6 assists per game compared to Drummond’s 2.6. However, Drummond dominates the defensive aspect of the game with 13.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks, due to his size (Basketball-Reference). Lowry is still a great defender but puts up fewer numbers on the sheet with 5.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks (Basketball Reference). Drummond’s defence may heavily impact the game during crunch time, as the Raptors have found themselves in close games throughout the season. His power in the paint can get both defensive stops and easy buckets in the paint.
At the end of the day, it’s hard to compare these two players as the positions they play and their roles on their teams are drastically different from one another. Both players play important roles on their teams, but Lowry’s direct impact on winning games is something that Drummond cannot compare to. Lowry’s Box plus/minus is +1.04 compared to Drummonds -0.2, meaning with Lowry on the court, the Raptors score 1.04 more points per 100 possessions, while Drummond’s presence is not always as beneficial (Basketball-Reference).
However, Drummond might be exactly what the Raptors need for a great playoff run, a possible championship run and a good acquisition for the future of the Raptors. He puts up the same points as Lowry and contributes more on the defensive end. Sure, he may not spread out the floor as well and isn't the floor general. However, in place of that, the Raptors have VanVleet and Norman Powell who may be successors of Lowry in the future. We've seen games where both have stepped up in Lowry’s absence. They're certainly the future of the Raptors and, if they're paired with Drummond, we may see them spearhead another championship run to Toronto. Drummond’s arrival could potentially fill the void in the Raptors, creating a much-needed floor presence.
Lowry carries a championship mentality onto the court each game, part of what makes him one of the greatest leaders in today’s game. A trade like this could impact the locker room and the culture of Raptors Basketball drastically. Would this trade be worth it for the Raptors in the long run? Are they prepared for the potential departure of Kyle Lowry? In our opinion, No. Kyle Lowry is such a vital aspect to the Toronto franchise that it's not the same with or without him. He is not only needed on the court but also in locker rooms being a major aspect of high team chemistry.
References
NetsDaily. 2021. Woj: Andre Drummond ‘natural fit’ for Nets, but is it a realistic possibility?. [online] Available at: <https://www.netsdaily.com/2021/2/6/22269563/woj-andre-drummond-natural-fit-for-nets-but-is-it-a-realistic-possibility> [Accessed 1 March 2021].
Page, B. and Drummond, A., 2021. Andre Drummond Stats | Basketball-Reference.com. [online] Basketball-Reference.com. Available at: <https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/drumman01.html> [Accessed 1 March 2021].
Page, B. and Gasol, M., 2021. Marc Gasol Stats | Basketball-Reference.com. [online] Basketball-Reference.com. Available at: <https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gasolma01.html> [Accessed 1 March 2021].
Page, B. and Ibaka, S., 2021. Serge Ibaka Stats | Basketball-Reference.com. [online] Basketball-Reference.com. Available at: <https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/ibakase01.html> [Accessed 1 March 2021].
Page, B. and Lowry, K., 2021. Kyle Lowry Stats | Basketball-Reference.com. [online] Basketball-Reference.com. Available at: <https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lowryky01.html> [Accessed 1 March 2021].
Sportsnet.ca. 2021. Report: Raptors, Cavaliers discuss potential Drummond deal. [online] Available at: <https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/report-raptors-cavaliers-discuss-potential-drummond-deal/> [Accessed 1 March 2021].
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