NBA trade rumors: Kyle Lowry could be on his way out of Toronto

We are inching closer to the frenzy of the NBA trade deadline. Here is a fresh set of trade rumors to whet your appetite.

Kyle Lowry (Raptors)

Kyle Lowry’s name has been in trade rumors for a few weeks.

Lowry has been with the Raptors since 2012 and has seen the franchise rise to prominence in Toronto, from getting into the playoffs and garnering widespread national attention in Canada, to finally winning the NBA Championship last year.

At the age of 33, though, does Lowry factor into the Raptors' long-term plans?

Despite the loss of Kawhi Leonard last summer, the Raptors haven’t taken much of a step backward this year. They’re third in the Eastern Conference, a game out of second place, and they’re getting healthy after a spate of injuries.

It presents an interesting conundrum. Do the Raptors trade Lowry, a veteran player having one of his best seasons? Or do they keep him for the remainder of this season, and take another shot at winning a championship?

Prediction: The Raptors are still in the mix to win the NBA's Eastern Conference. Because of that, there is no way Lowry gets traded this season.

Robert Covington (Timberwolves)

There are, according to reports, a number of contending teams interested in the services of Timberwolves forward Robert Covington. One of those teams mentioned is the Los Angeles Lakers, who sit atop the Western Conference standings.

Playing just more than 29 minutes a game, Covington is averaging 12.7 points this season for the Timberwolves, a team that has lost seven in a row and is turning its attention toward a rebuild.

We’ve talked about the Lakers in this space before. They’ve been connected to a few players whose names are floating around in trade rumors, but would they have the assets to make a deal happen? If not, there are other suitors in the Western Conference.

Prediction: Covington gets traded before or at the deadline. I don't think the Lakers can get it done. The lack of tradable assets is a problem. The Philadelphia 76ers seem like the better fit, especially since he played in Philly from 2014-18.

Derrick Rose (Pistons)

Derrick Rose is another player the Lakers are reportedly interested in. The 76ers are also reportedly targeting the former NBA MVP.

Now a member of the Detroit Pistons, Rose has spent time with five clubs in the NBA. But it’s no surprise he is garnering interest from contending teams at the deadline. The numbers are there offensively, and he’s under contract next season at a relatively low cost—two factors that make him a particularly valuable player to a team with championship aspirations.

Prediction: It's rebuild time in Detroit, so Rose will be traded. I can't see him going to the Lakers, but I could see Philadelphia as a possibility.

Eric Bledsoe (Bucks)

The Milwaukee Bucks have a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference standings, yet there has been speculation that they’d be open to trading 30-year-old point guard Eric Bledsoe.

Bledsoe is averaging 14.8 points per game this season, slightly above his career average, and is in the first year of a four-year, $70 million contract.

The Bucks have denied any interest in moving Bledsoe, and Milwaukee signed Bledsoe to that contract extension in March.

Prediction: Bledsoe isn't going anywhere, given how the Bucks are rolling. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Norman Powell (Raptors)

Let’s bookend this with more Raptors trade speculation, this time surrounding Norman Powell.

Is the 26-year-old guard a moveable asset come the trade deadline? He’s been on a tremendous run for the Raptors through January and has averaged 22.7 points per game this month. Go back through December, and Powell has hit the 20-point mark in eight of his last 10 games.

With this recent streak, what does it mean for his potential value on the trade market?

The Raptors have managed to fight their way through a mess of injuries, including to Powell, and now they’re on a winning streak heading into this weekend. They’re definitely a team to keep an eye on heading into the trade deadline.

Prediction: The argument for trying to sell high is valid, but things are rolling in Toronto. Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make.

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