Apr 24, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) controls a ball as Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) defends during the fourth quarter in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 118-93. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

The difference between the championship contenders and everyone else in the NBA is enormous. Where does that leave Kyle Lowry?

As a fan of the Toronto Raptors, watching the NBA Finals produces increasing despair. The two teams battling it out for the championship are so much better than our guys they seem to be playing in a different league.

In English soccer, teams at the bottom of the best division are booted (har de har) to the next division while the top teams from below are promoted. There’s infinitely more prestige in becoming Premier League champions than winning any other division.

North American professional sports doesn’t subscribe to a relegation system (Future headline: “Raptors 905 join NBA next season, while Brooklyn Nets become G-League squad”…not happening in my lifetime), which in a way is too bad but not the point of this post. I’m more interested in considering destinations for Kyle Lowry. He says he wants to win a championship ring, an entirely understandable, indeed laudable, goal for a player now 31 years old.

There’s not a lot of places to go

Guess what Kyle? The two best teams on the planet don’t need you. Forget the financial aspects of you signing there, do you really believe either the Golden State Warriors or Cleveland Cavaliers have a hole at point guard? Kyrie Irving was essential to the Cavs’ mind-boggling 86-point first half last night, and is Cleveland’s best player other than you-know-who. Steph Curry is a two-time NBA MVP. And both of them are younger than you.

Let’s consider the next tier. Boston’s Isaiah Thomas isn’t going anywhere. Chris Paul will likely return to the Clippers. One could make an argument for the San Antonio Spurs needing a point guard, but they would need to do an awful amount of salary shuffling (and dumping of Tony Parker, which I can’t see the fan-sensitive Spurs doing) to make it happen.

Houston has James Harden, and OKC boasts Russell Westbrook. Scratch them.

A forced choice – and a happy one

Kyle, you have a problem. The best teams don’t need you, particularly for the kind of payday you want. The lesser teams, which could absorb your salary, are light-years away from championship contention. Do you really want to spend your final seasons pushing the rock uphill with the kiddy car Lakers, or the Knicks, who grab headlines for all the wrong reasons?

Hey – how about the Raptors? That’s a stable team, run by a quality President and with a successful, albeit stodgy, coach. They have an interesting mix of kids and veterans, one of whom is your best friend. Of all the squads vying for your attention, they are the one best positioned to inherit the Eastern Conference crown (if anyone can in the next two years) with you as the helmsman.

Come on back, Kyle. You won’t regret it.