Raptors GM Knows Jose Calderon Hates the Kyle Lowry Trade

By trading for Kyle Lowry this summer, Toronto Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo knew that it would tick off his current point guard, Jose Calderon. However, a talent such as Lowry was too good to pass up. Them’s the breaks, says Colangelo. Per the Canoe: “We feel we’ve added a solid starting-calibre point guard to our team who will bring toughness and grit at a very important position,’ Colangelo said of Lowry, who averaged 14.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals during the 2011-12 season, including 15.9, 5.3 and 7.2 assist numbers in 38 starts. ‘That adds to our already deep position there with Jose Calderon in the fold … Someone who’s performed at a very high level, that’s improved every year in the league. At 26, Kyle represents the future of the position.’ Colangelo broke down the specifics of the pick the team will be surrendering at some point to the Rockets, along with guard Gary Forbes for Lowry. The selection Houston will receive is protected 1-3 and 15-30 for the next three years; 1-2 and 15-30 the next year; 1 and 15-30 in the fifth year and completely unprotected in the sixth year. That means if the Raptors make the playoffs the next five years they keep the pick and Houston will get it wherever it is in the sixth year. That’s a gamble, but for a player of Lowry’s caliber, one the franchise had to take — especially after losing out on Steve Nash, who Colangelo admitted was Toronto’s No. 1 target. […] Clearly Lowry will be given every opportunity to supplant Calderon as starter in both the short and long-term and the longest-serving Raptor, as one would expect, didn’t jump up and down in excitement upon hearing the news of Lowry’s arrival. ‘I’m not going to tell you that (Calderon) was thrilled about the trade, but in the end, this is about becoming a much better basketball team and that’s my No. 1 concern,’ Colangelo said. ‘Jose has been a true professional in everything that he has done for this organization and we’re thrilled to have him as part of the team. If it becomes a situation where there’s an opportunity for us to get better and Jose is part of a transaction, obviously, we’ve said it very clearly, nobody on the team right now is untradeable we’re looking to get better and sometimes it takes moving people to get to where you need to be.'”