Raptors general manager on Kyle Lowry: 'I'm not trading him'

Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri had news for reporters who were sitting around talking about guard Kyle Lowry and says he is not trading the eight-year player.

Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri had news for reporters who were talking about guard Kyle Lowry on Monday.

“I’m not trading him,” Ujiri said, according to the Toronto Sun.

Ujiri could have dealt the eight-year veteran, then an impending free agent, at the trade deadline last season but opted to keep him, which led to the Raptors winning 48 games and the Atlantic Division. Toronto lost in the first round of last year’s playoffs to the Brooklyn Nets in seven games.  

Lowry, 28, averaged a career-high 17.9 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 79 games last season and was rewarded with a four-year, $48 million deal in the offseason.

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“He does have a presence, He plays hard. He has the edge,” Ujiri said. ”That’s the honest truth—he does have an edge. You can call him what you want. He does this or he does that. And he wants to win. He’s very competitive every single game."

The Raptors open the 2014-15 season at home against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 29.

- Scooby Axson