NBA Free Agent Grades: Kyle Lowry Staying With Toronto Raptors Is Best Deal! 'We The North' Becomes Team On The Rise!

The NBA Free Agent Grades are being released for some teams, and the Toronto Raptors win top grades for keeping their coveted point guard, Kyle Lowry.

Free agency officially started lasy July 1, but the posturing and positioning among the teams have gone way before that.

The frenzy escalated when LeBron James, the world's best player opted out and became the top free agent. Front offices went berserk.

The ultimatum he issued at the Miami Heat put the slickest and wiliest NBA executive, Pat Riley on the prowl for free agents and one of his top targets was Kyle Lowry, the best point guard in the East last year.

But Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri will not just be bullied, even by Pat Riley.

He acted quickly and decisively. Right in the first day of free agency, one of the top names was off the table.

Yahoo Sports was the first to report:

"Free-agent guard Kyle Lowry has reached agreement on a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Toronto Raptors, league sources told Yahoo Sports.The fourth year of the contract is at Lowry's option."

Critics can debate about the $ 12million price tag, but the situation as it is, there are teams like the Lakers, Rockets and even the Heat who would be more than willing to pay even more than that amount to secure Lowry.

Lowry told Yahoo: "Toronto is just the right place for me."

What's more significant is how this signing changes the Raptors' reputation. The franchise lost Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh to free agency, and Vince Carter forced a trade out of the team.

Lowry is their next significant free agent and now that he's staying, it makes Toronto a viable destination.

If you take it in this context, $ 12 million annually is not at all bad. On the question which was the best deal so far:

Kevin Pelton, ESPN Insider: "Kyle Lowry: Four years, $48 million. Honorable mention to Patty Mills, but at least there's some risk there with Mills' shoulder surgery. Lowry is a top-10 point guard in his prime who will make the same amount for the next four seasons as Kobe Bryant will for the next two."