The Miami Heat made a big trade last week, sending veteran point guard Kyle Lowry and a protected 2027 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Terry Rozier. With Lowry, 37, making over $29 million this season, rumors are swirling that he could either be traded again or get bought out by the Charlotte Hornets.
If Lowry does get moved or bought out, he is expected to be a popular target for teams looking to make a trade or dip into the buyout market. multiple teams projected to make the playoffs have been named as potential suitors. Let’s dive into which teams are rumored to be interested in the veteran point guard and what he could provide for teams looking to make a run in the playoffs.
The Philadelphia 76ers
According to Jake Fischer from Yahoo Sports, the Philadelphia 76ers are “one team that could be interested in his services. Lowry’s contract will keep most teams from going after him, but this wouldn’t be an issue for the 76ers. Fischer highlighted this when he discussed the 76ers’ potential interest in Lowry stating, “The 6ers stand as one of the few contenders below the first luxury tax apron and capable of signing a player who was bought out from a contract pricier than this year’s mid-level exception ($12.4 million.)”
The 76ers’ interest in Lowry makes sense. They have a solid group of guards, but they could use an upgrade at their backup point guard spot, which is currently being filled by Patrick Beverly. Lowry would help the 76ers a lot in the postseason when their star point guard Tyrese Maxey leaves the floor.
The Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are another team that is rumored to be interested in Kyle Lowry. Jovan Buha of The Athletic recently broke down what moves the Lakers could possibly make as the trade deadline approaches and Lowry’s name came up as a possible target.
The Lakers are in an interesting spot at the moment. They are currently ninth in the Western Conference and they have some serious holes in their roster. Their two biggest issues are their guard depth and their wings. It’s been reported for a while now that the Lakers are interested in Hawks point guard Dejounte Murray. To make this trade happen, it seems likely that the Lakers would include their current point guard D’Angelo Russell in the deal.
However, Buha also noted that the Lakers could trade Russell for other guards like Malcolm Brogdon, Tyus Jones, or Spencer Dinwiddie. If they trade D’Angelo Russell at the trade deadline, whether it be for a star or a veteran, the Lakers would be in desperate need of a point guard to come off the bench and Kyle Lowry could fill that void.
Why Kyle Lowry will help playoff teams
At this stage in his career, Kyle Lowry is past his prime. This is clear because his minutes played per game, points per game, and assists per game are all the lowest they have been since he was in Houston in the late 2000s.
Despite his advanced age, sizable contract, and limited production, Lowry still provides some value as a role player. Although he doesn’t score at the volume he did during his prime, Lowry is shooting 38.5% from three on around four attempts per game. He’s also a decent passer, averaging four assists per game compared to just under two turnovers per game.
Lowry is even a solid defender. Advanced defensive metrics have viewed him as a plus defender since 2022 and that has not changed this season. Considering all of this, you can see why teams would be interested in adding him to their team even though he is an older player on a big contract.