Lowry in Play for Raptors?

About a month ago we brought up the possibility of Bryan Colangelo targeting the Houston Rockets this off-season.

In particular, targeting their point guard situation.

An injury to starter Kyle Lowry gave back-up Goran Dragic the opportunity to flourish last season, and it seemed doubtful that Houston would be able to keep both going into next season, especially with Dragic being a free-agent.

Our initial take on the situation, one backed up by Tom Martin of The Dream Shake, was that of the two PG's, Dragic was the much more realistic option, being a free agent and not having the all-around game of Lowry.

However things may have suddenly shifted.

Earlier today, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported that Kyle Lowry may be on the way out of Houston, due to perhaps irreconcilable differences between himself and coach Kevin McHale. Lowry in fact stated:

"If things aren't addressed coaching-wise, I guess I have to be moved."

hmm.

Frankly if indeed this means that Lowry was available, it's hard for me not to see a better move than swapping the eighth or ninth pick in the draft, if the Raptors indeed land at that spot Wednesday night, for the former Wildcat. His defence and physical play would lend itself perfectly to Coach Dwane Casey's playing style, and would address a number of needs for the team, including acting as the club's future PG option.

Now this is by no means a done deal.

McHale was surprised by Lowry's take on the situation and said:

"I didn't think we had too much of a problem coexisting this year. Everybody has a little beef every once in a while. I didn't feel like (there were problems). He apparently did."

"There were times that we didn't agree on things. There were times that I got on him. I don't think it was unduly harsh on anybody."

So there's no guarantee Lowry's going anywhere, let alone Toronto.

Add in the fact that the Raptors have needs at other positions and still don't know where they're going to be drafting from and we'll try not to get ahead of ourselves too much.

But as Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun noted, Lowry is very close to assistant Alvin Williams, another former Villanova product, and you have to think that should the Rockets part ways with Kyle, Bryan Colangelo would be one of the first to give Houston GM Daryl Morey a call.