The Philadelphia 76ers seem to have finally take the next step towards competing for an NBA championship. They have been at the top of the Eastern Conference for a majority of the season and do not look like they are going anywhere anytime soon. They have been linked to some players at the NBA trade deadline and this deal would send them a star for the second half and the postseason.

Kyle Lowry has been featured in NBA trade rumors for weeks now. The talks are beginning to intensify as we approach the NBA trade deadline and the Sixers are one of the teams linked to the point guard. Lowry is a Philadelphia native who played his college ball at Villanova so the storyline would be incredible.

He is in the final year of his contract and is showing that he could still play the game at a high-level. Lowry would be one of the names that could contribute to the Sixers right away and decide what he wants to do in the offseason.

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The Toronto Raptors are on the other end of the spectrum this season. They have been one of the top teams in the league over the past two years but have taken a significant step back.

For whatever reason, the Raptors might not make the postseason and they could begin to sell a bit. Because of Lowry’s current contract situation, he seems like the most obvious player to be sent away.

This is a deal that would impact both teams right away. Let’s take a look at how it might happen as we creep closer to the trade deadline this week.