LA Clippers Reasons to Avoid a Lowry Trade: His Age
If the LA Clippers are thinking about trading for Kyle Lowry, they can’t forget one important thing – his age. Lowry’s 34 years old, and will turn 35 years old in March. He’s no spring chicken, and the Clips have to ask how much longer he can contribute at a high level.
Not only that, but his contract situation has some interplay with his age. He’s a free agent after this year; if the Clips trade the farm to get Kyle Lowry, you have to think they wouldn’t let him walk after half of a season. That gives Lowry leverage in negotiations.
How do you feel about giving Lowry another three or four years after this one? Paying him a substantial amount until he’s 39? That sort of decision could sink a future that’s already in jeopardy with a lack of picks.
If Kyle were a few years younger, I’d feel much more solid about signing him to the long term deal that he would likely be signed to. But Chris Paul’s incredible performance into his late 30s is the exception, not the rule. A trade for Lowry would be a gamble on him being able to recreate that, and that’s not a gamble that feels good to make.
While the LA Clippers might make a deal at or before the deadline, it’s hard to see a Kyle Lowry deal working out. The money it would take to bring him over, combined with his age and potential fit issues, just make it a tough proposition, and I don’t expect it to happen.