Report: Kyle Lowry to decline Team USA invite due to impending free agency
Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry declined an invitation to join Team USA for the upcoming Olympics due to his impending free agency, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Toronto guard Kyle Lowry has declined an invitation to join the 12-man Team USA roster for the Summer Olympics because of his impending free agency this summer, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2021
Lowry won gold with the United States during the 2016 Games, averaging 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest. He was considered an integral part of the Team USA system prior to opting out of this summer's tournament.
Widely considered the best player in Raptors history, Lowry's free agency will be a major point of contention for the franchise. Lowry has been linked to his hometown Philadelphia 76ers, although his agent rejected the notion of him angling for a move towards the team prior to the trade deadline.
Lowry averaged 17.2 points, 7.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game during the 2020-21 season and was one of the lone bright spots during a dreadful campaign, as the Raptors missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13.
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