Mandatory Credit: Rich Schultz/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Free Agency has started with a bang, and now-former Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry is taking his talents to South Beach.
Lowry’s time in Toronto has come to a close. The 35-year-old will always be remembered as a legend in the Six, having secured the franchise’s first NBA title in 2019 alongside Kawhi Leonard.
With his name swirling in trade rumors all season, the Raptors decided to hold onto Lowry rather than cashing in on his services last year. Free Agency officially started on Monday, and the Raptors and Miami Heat agreed to a sign-and-trade, sending Lowry to South Beach. Lowry revealed the news on his own social media accounts.
Miami Heat: Kyle Lowry adds veteran presence to backcourt
No, Lowry didn’t announce his intentions on an hour-long ESPN special in similar fashion to LeBron James, but this is like a lite version of that move.
Lowry averaged 17.2 points (on 44/40/88 shooting splits), 7.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds in 34.8 minutes per game on the year. He’s an immediate upgrade at the position alongside Jimmy Butler, as the Heat look to make another run to prove their bubble Finals appearance was no fluke.
Pat Riley has never been one to hold back come the summer. Lowry had been linked to add of the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, L.A. Clippers and even Miami via trade last season, but it’s the Heat officially winning the sweepstakes, having waited until the offseason to make their move.