Kyle Lowry’s free agency draws in Miami Heat as frontrunners

Kyle Lowry could possibly be on his method to the 305.

The Warmth are rising as a severe contender to land the Raptors point guard, in keeping with ESPN.

Miami has reportedly made strikes to create a possible sign-and-trade package deal that features guard Goran Dragic and ahead Valuable Achiuwa to current to Toronto as soon as the free company window opens at 6 p.m. ET on Monday.

The Warmth are unable to signal Lowry, 35, on the spot as a result of they don’t have the salary-cap house. Subsequently maneuvering a stable package deal to supply the Raptors is their most suitable choice to amass the six-time All-Star and 2019 NBA champion.

The Warmth picked up the choice on Dragic’s $19.4 million contract for the 2021-2022 season, making him a great commerce asset for opposing groups.

Achiuwa, who was chosen by the Warmth with the twentieth total decide within the 2020 NBA Draft, impressed in his rookie season.

Lowry, who collected $30 million within the closing yr of his contract, is searching for an analogous quantity because the beginning annual wage in what he hopes to be a multi-year deal, in keeping with ESPN, which reported each New Orleans and Dallas have a robust curiosity in Lowry and have the cap space to signal him. Nevertheless, the 2 groups are reportedly beginning to search elsewhere for start line guard assist as Miami takes the lead within the race for Lowry.

A Lowry-Warmth union would add a veteran level guard to an already developed group with a stable core led by Jimmy Butler — somebody Lowry has reportedly been lengthy intrigued to play alongside. The 2 have been shut since they joined forces on Workforce USA on the 2016 Olympics.

Miami is coming off a somber 40-32 season after a triumphant finals run within the NBA Bubble in 2020 — the place they have been two wins away from the Larry O’Brien championship trophy that was gained by the Lakers. Lowry could possibly be the lacking piece Miami must get again to the finals.

Lowry, who arrived in Toronto in 2012, is at the moment the longest-tenured Raptor on the roster. He helped lead the group to its first-ever championship in 2019, alongside Kawhi Leonard, who’s additionally a free agent after declining his $36 million participant choice with the Clippers for the 2021-22 season.