Toronto Said Goodbye to Lowry and Hello to Leonard in the Same Week

On September 20, the Raptors gave Kyle Lowry a golden 'GROAT' statue, a key to the city of Toronto, and a special dinner — a formal send-off for the player most responsible for the franchise's only championship. His No. 7 will be retired on January 10 against Philadelphia. The ceremony landed six days after Kawhi Leonard's trade from the Clippers became official on September 14, completing a 75-day process that began in June.

The overlap is not incidental. Lowry retired in July after signing a one-day contract, and the franchise has spent the months since managing both the emotional close of his era and the logistical opening of the next one. Leonard's arrival — acquired for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and two unprotected first-round picks — represents a full architectural reset built around Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley.

The two events together mark a clean line in franchise history: one chapter formally closed, another formally open.