Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry was perhaps the top potential prize on the trade market going into today’s 3 p.m. ET deadline. And while there were plenty of teams in pursuit of him throughout the day, he’ll ultimately finish the 2020-21 season right where he started: with the Raptors.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Raptors GM Masai Ujiri ultimately couldn’t find a trade package that compelled him to move Lowry. Additionally, Ujiri had — per Wojnarowski — been fine with finishing out the season with Lowry in the fold.

In the end, Masai Ujiri didn't find a package that compelled him to trade Kyle Lowry — and Lowry had always been fine with completing the season with the Raptors, sources tell ESPN. Now, Lowry can head to free agency in the summer. https://t.co/JOoY9WMKNf

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021

Questions swirled around Lowry all the way to the deadline, and there were signs that the Raptors were positioning themselves to make the move. Toronto traded Matt Thomas to Utah and Terence Davis to Sacramento for future draft picks, not long before the deadline to open up roster spots — necessary because anyone who obtained Lowry would have had to send multiple players to Toronto in order to make the salary ramifications work.

In the end, though, the Raptors couldn’t be swayed to part with Lowry. So, on his 35th birthday, Lowry woke up as a Raptor — and remained one. He’ll be a free agent when the season ends, and there’s no guarantee he returns.

“We are comfortable with whatever direction we go,” Raptors President Masai Ujiri said. “Maybe we lost a chance here, but we also think we gained a chance in some other things going forward. This team, especially with what we’ve gone through this year, could pivot in many different directions and this is where we find ourselves now.”

The Philadelphia 76ers were in the mix for Lowry, but fell out of that when they swung a reported trade that landed them veteran point guard George Hill. The Miami Heat, per reports, seemed to be leading the pack of teams pursuing him — with the Los Angeles Lakers also in that mix. But neither the Heat nor Lakers would part with the players the Raptors most seemed to want: Tyler Herro from Miami and Talen Horton-Tucker from the Lakers.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reporting Heat have made their offer for Kyle Lowry and Raptors weighing, with Heat unwilling to add Tyler Herro to mix, but willing with Duncan Robinson, possibly Precious Achiuwa.

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) March 25, 2021

"The hold up on both teams is the inclusion of Talen Horton-Tucker from the Lakers and Tyler Herro from the Miami Heat."@ShamsCharania has the latest on Kyle Lowry trade talks

📺: https://t.co/UOpeZurAFr pic.twitter.com/IWac70pml7

— Stadium (@Stadium) March 25, 2021

Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the Raptors reportedly wanted the 76ers to include prized second-year guard Matisse Thybulle and rookie Tyrese Maxey for Lowry, moves Philadelphia was apparently unwilling to make.

In nine seasons with the Raptors, Lowry has helped Toronto become one of the league’s most consistent franchises. He led them to an NBA title in 2019 and the Raptors have made the playoffs seven straight seasons, too.

Lowry has played 592 games with the Raptors and is one of the most decorated players in team history. He is the team’s all-time leader in regular-season assists, steals, 3-pointers made and 3-pointers attempted. He also ranks second in regular-season games played and points to DeMar DeRozan. Playoffs-wise, Lowry is Toronto’s all-time leader in practically every major statistical category except for blocks, free throws made, offensive rebounds and 3-point percentage.

Shoutout the Global Ambassador/translator @Drake 😂 pic.twitter.com/6WPEUXNPNV

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 25, 2021

Deals had to be agreed to and reported to the league by the 3 p.m. ET deadline. It may be several more hours after that deadline before things are finalized; the NBA holds what are known as “trade calls” with the teams involved to ensure that all the financial matters fit within league rules, and there’s often a backlog of those on trade-deadline day.

The Heat remained in the mix for Lowry, reports Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald as Lowry had interest in the Heat because of his friendship with Jimmy Butler.

Miami’s challenge in landing Lowry resided in his contract: $30.5 million for this season as a part of his expiring deal. To get him, the Heat would have to send out roughly $24 million in salary to make the financials of the trade work. Doing so would likely lead to Miami parting with several rotation players and, thus, altering the overall look of its roster.

The Heat’s three-highest salaries — not including All-Stars Bam Adebayo and Butler — are Goran Dragic, Andre Iguodala and Kelly Olynyk. Chiang writes the Heat would have to part with at least one of those players to make the deal work. And, that doesn’t likely include Toronto’s likely ask for a young player such as Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson or rookie Precious Achiuwa in the deal.

Miami was a major pursuer for Lowry, and now simply may try to add him again as a free agent later this year. But the reigning Eastern Conference champions pivoted in time to add Victor Oladipo — a two-time All-Star, a 21-point-per-game scorer this season and someone only three years removed from All-NBA status — from Houston, in exchange for Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley and a pick swap in 2022.

“The actual day, there’s usually a lot more hype and then a lot less action than what is speculated,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That was probably true this year as well.”

Had Miami gotten Lowry, it would have held his Bird Rights and could re-sign him this offseason. But as has been previously reported, acquiring Lowry at the cost of some of Miami’s key veteran players gave the Heat second thoughts on making that deal.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.