Kofi Inkoom
Heat Veteran, Kyle Lowry, is being considered for a trade by the team due to his decreasing performance and an expiring contract worth $29.7 million.
While Lowry’s name has been in trade rumors for some time, there haven’t been many reports about him during the 2023/24 season.
According to sources from The Miami Herald, the Heat is actively discussing the 37-year-old point guard in potential trades. This suggests that Miami is either restarting or possibly never stopped exploring trade options for Lowry.
Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel goes a step further, suggesting that Lowry’s time with the Heat seems to be coming to an end.
Winderman indicates that a resolution to Lowry’s situation is not only expected by the next month’s trade deadline but could happen as early as this week.
Lowry, who started the first 35 games this season, was moved to the bench for recent games against Atlanta and Orlando.
Miami has faced three consecutive losses and currently holds the No. 6 seed in the East with a 24-19 record.
Lowry was allowed to travel away from the team after a loss to the Raptors in Toronto, but he faced travel delays and returned late to Miami, leading to uncertainty about his status against the Hawks.
Coach Erik Spoelstra started Caleb Martin in Lowry’s place.
Spoelstra said, “We are not where we want to be. This is about us trying to get to a higher level on both ends of the court.” He emphasized the importance of figuring out combinations, rotations, and lineups that bring out the best in each other.
Lowry’s overall statistics are decent but not spectacular, averaging 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals in 28.0 minutes per game through 37 games.
However, his usage rate is a career-low 13.3%, and his counting stats have significantly dropped. Lowry is 0-17 from three-point range in the past five games, averaging 2.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 25.7 minutes over that span.
Lowry was disappointed with the demotion but acknowledged the coach’s decision. He said, “As a professional, of course, it’s an adjustment. But I have to make it and figure out how to help the team win.”
The big question is whether the Heat is willing to take on a multiyear contract in exchange for Lowry’s expiring deal.
This move could potentially put the Heat into the luxury tax in the coming years, impacting roster flexibility. However, the Heat could make future trades to shed salary in such a scenario.