DeMar DeRozan was among the first to find out that Kyle Lowry would be traded from the Miami Heat to the Charlotte Hornets this week.
Lowry phoned DeRozan early Tuesday to inform him about the trade before it became public. For DeRozan, it was upsetting not as a player or competitor but as a close friend.
DeRozan expressed his dismay, stating, "It was terrible. To me, my focus shifts to supporting him more as a friend. For me, basketball becomes less important. Even last night, I simply messaged him before going to bed, inquired about his mental state. That's my primary concern. Everything else will work out.
At this stage in their careers, both players understand the realities of the business. Lowry supported DeRozan when he was traded by the Raptors in 2018 without any discussion or consolation. By then, the duo had been teammates in Toronto for six seasons and were close friends on and off the court.
As the NBA trade deadline approaches every winter, DeRozan mentioned that he anticipates the inevitable uncertainty created by the market.
"You have to keep an open mind around this time of year that anything is possible," DeRozan noted. "You try to control what you can and when something happens, we're all refreshing Twitter, Instagram, and social media to see what comes next.
Charlotte may not be Lowry's final destination. The Hornets have purportedly been looking to trade Lowry; if that doesn't materialize, they might buy out his contract.
The Bulls have an available roster spot and some flexibility under the luxury tax. Additionally, with backcourt injuries persisting, they have a requirement for backup guards.
This raises the obvious question: Could Lowry be a good addition to Chicago?
"Kyle will be a good fit wherever I am," DeRozan asserted.
DeRozan clarified that reuniting on the court has never been a priority for him and Lowry. Despite their moves away from Toronto, the pair have sustained their friendship, but they haven't strategized to end up on the same team.
"What's remarkable is that we never really discuss it," the 34-year-old DeRozan stated. "We mostly reminisce about the old days, moments, and situations. But we don't try to dwell on the present."
However, that doesn't mean he wouldn't value the opportunity to play alongside his friend once again.
Acquiring Lowry, a six-time All-Star, would create significant lineup questions in Chicago. The Bulls remain confident in Coby White's ability to lead as the starting point guard. This implies that Lowry would either play off-ball in the starting lineup or, more likely, assume the point guard role for the bench unit.
This transition in Lowry's career isn't surprising. The Heat were looking to change their point guard position during the offseason when they pursued Damian Lillard. Given his age of 37, it's natural that Lowry could take on a more supportive role with his next team.
With all this in mind, DeRozan expressed his willingness to facilitate discussions between Lowry and the Bulls front office if either party was interested in bringing the guard to Chicago.
DeRozan said that if it was something Lowry wanted to do, he would be supportive because Lowry is one of his closest and smartest friends in the league.
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