NBA Rumors: Kyle Lowry to be the top target for the Miami Heat in free agency

Toronto Raptors Kyle Lowry (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
Toronto Raptors Kyle Lowry (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports) /
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NBA Rumors: Kyle Lowry is expected to be the top target for the Miami Heat heading into free agency. 

After missing out on Kyle Lowry at this past year’s NBA Trade Deadline, in which the Toronto Raptors elected to not trade their star, the Miami Heat are hoping that its second crack at the all-star is one that will prove to be successful.

According to a recent report, Lowry is expected to be the top target for the Heat heading into the offseason. Lowry is expected to be one of the most highly sought-after free agents in this year’s class and is widely expected to leave Toronto for a contender.

"[via Miami Herald]"

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"As to your question, Dinwiddie could be a free agent option for the Heat. But it appears that Kyle Lowry will be at the top of the Heat’s free agent list when it comes to guards based on mutual interest, Butler’s close relationship with Lowry, and Miami’s pursuit of Lowry at the March trade deadline."

It’s no surprise that the Heat will be pushing hard for Lowry. He’s one of Jimmy Butler’s good friends and would actually solve a lot of what has plagued this team over the last few seasons.

Kyle Lowry would be an ideal fit on the Miami Heat

Miami’s glaring weaknesses revolved around the lack of a point of attack defender and the need for a secondary playmaker next to Jimmy and Bam Adebayo. Lowry would address both of those needs.

Even though Lowry is 35 years old, he’s still playing at a high level. This past season with the Raptors, Lowry 17 points, seven assists, and five rebounds per game on 40 percent shooting from 3-point range. Assuming that he can continue to play defense at a high level, there’s no question that he’d be a welcomed addition to the Heat.

He’d fit on this team perfectly and would even make their bench look that much better – assuming they could find a way to also re-sign Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, and Victor Oladipo. Even though the Heat were one of the most disappointing teams in the Eastern Conference this past season, perhaps too much was made out of their early playoff outing.

This was a team that simply didn’t have sufficient time to rest and recover after an unlikely run to the NBA Finals in the restart bubble last season. Miami never seemed entirely healthy – or rested – and that finally caught up to them as they lost in embarrassing fashion to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs.

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The big question that Miami has to answer is whether Lowry is the piece that will help them compete with the other contenders in the East. Would that move alone be enough to significantly close the gap between them and the likes of the Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers?