Toronto Raptors to make 'milestone team announcement' featuring 'special guest'

The Toronto Raptors will be holding a news conference Tuesday morning for a "milestone" announcement, according to the team's media advisory.

The advisory sent out Monday also said a "special guest" will be present to address media.

CBC News will be carrying the news conference live above.

It comes as Kyle Lowry, often referred to as Mr. Raptor and widely regarded as the greatest Raptors player of all time, hinted at retiring with the team in a cryptic video posted to his Instagram page Monday. Multiple media reports over the past week from outlets, including SportsNet, have also pointed to his retirement with the team, saying he will do so by signing a ceremonial, one-day contract with the franchise.

In the video posted to Instagram, Lowry is seen playing in a golf simulator as his phone blows up with messages and missed calls from former Raptors coaches and teammates like Fred VanVleet, Vince Carter and Pascal Siakam. Some of the messages say, "congratulations" while others say "is this real?" and "don't make me find out like this, man."

Lowry then gets a call from best friend and former teammate DeMar DeRozan, which he picks up before the video cuts off. Lowry and DeRozan played for Toronto together for six years.

DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry weren't always best of friends

Tuesday's news conference date also happens to coincide with Lowry's iconic jersey number when he played with the Raptors as No. 7.

The 40-year-old point guard left the Raptors in 2021 after being traded to the Miami Heat. He played nine seasons for Toronto and helped bring home the team's first NBA championship in franchise history in 2019.

Lowry has spent his last two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers.

During his time with the Raptors, he