Kyle Lowry
Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) reacts in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game two of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Reuters/ David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Lowry wants an NBA ring and seems to be tired of waiting. The all-star guard is reportedly opting out of his final year with the Toronto Raptors and test the free agent market this summer.

Lowry thus joins a frenzied free agent pool where most would be looking for lucrative deals. The 31-year-old guard is expected to be handed crazy pitches though he prefers to join a contender. He dropped a hint of that when he was asked about his priorities as a free agent.

“A ring. Nothing else. I just want a ring,” Lowry told reporters as he explained his free agency priorities in a report by the Associated Press via the Manila Bulletin.

The three-time all-star guard had one year remaining on his contract where he could have been assured US$48 million (AU$65 million) for the 2017-18 NBA season. But with age not on his side, it seems that Lowry wants to make sure he doesn’t miss out on an NBA ring before his level of play declines.

Lowry was absent in games three and four in the Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Cleveland Cavaliers due to an ankle injury, NBA.com reports. Little did the Raptors and the fans know that it may have been his last ride.

Fellow Raptors star DeMar DeRozan hoped that Lowry would have returned next season but made it clear he would not stand in his way. DeRozan pointed out that when he was in the same situation – referring to his re-signing in 2016.

"I didn’t call or pressure him the first time, and he didn’t do that to me," DeRozan said in a report from ESPN. “I’m just gonna be there for him as a friend."

Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri is thus faced with a busy summer as Toronto tries again next season. With Lowry gone, looking for a guard to pick up the slack looms as a priority. The only guards on the roster thus far are DeRozan, Joseph Cory, Norman Powell and Delon Wright.

They could consider getting a guard in the 2017 NBA Draft too. Toronto will be selecting at 23, a pick they got from the trade deal involving Normal Powell and Serge Ibaka. Per the arrangement, the pick was to be the lower (or worse) of the two picks the Raps would own in the 2017 Draft which takes place on June 22, 2017.

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