Kyle Lowry’s Top Potential Trade, Buyout Landing Spots After Heat-Hornets Deal

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 23, 2024Kyle Lowry’s Top Potential Trade, Buyout Landing Spots After Heat-Hornets Deal0 of 2

Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Enjoy the Kyle Lowry era for the Charlotte Hornets while you can because it may not last long.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday the Hornets acquired Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick from the Miami Heat for guard Terry Rozier. Wojnarowski followed up to report the Hornets don’t plan on buying the six-time All-Star and are expected to explore a trade prior to the Feb. 8 deadline.

The new collective bargaining agreement may aid in that pursuit. Bobby Marks of ESPN listed off the teams that would be unable to sign Lowry if he gets bought out by Charlotte.

Bobby Marks @BobbyMarks42List of first/second apron teams

Golden State
LA Clippers
Boston
Phoenix
Milwaukee
Miami
Denver

These teams are not allowed to sign a player waived during the regular season that had a pre-existing salary of $12.4M+.

Whereas some of those teams might have called the Hornets’ bluff this close to the deadline, agreeing to a trade is their only path toward acquiring the 37-year-old guard.

Lowry’s value has obviously declined. Through 37 games, he’s averaging 8.2 points and 4.0 assists.

But one would expect him to still have a market either through a trade or buyout thanks to his career résumé and playoff experience.

Trade Candidates1 of 2

Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

Lowry’s $29.7 million salary complicates things for nearly all of the teams on Marks’ list.

The Phoenix Suns, for example, could certainly use his services. Devin Booker might be averaging 7.6 assists, but having a more traditional point guard would be nice for the stretch run.

The same is true for the Milwaukee Bucks. It’s one thing to consider a trade for Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. Murray is both younger and better than Lowry, and he’s making much less this season before his four-year, $114.1 million extension kicks in. Trading for Lowry doesn’t make a lot of sense after Milwaukee already went all in with Damian Lillard.

Even for the teams under the salary cap apron, nearly $30 million is a steep price for an aging guard. Plenty of contenders could theoretically use a good backup point guard, with the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder coming to mind.

But the cost of a trade simply might not be worth it.

Lowry’s expiring deal could help to facilitate a wider swap involving more than two teams and revolving around a much bigger piece.

Ti Windisch @TiWindischBecause I am now obsessed I am obligated to point out this now sets up Charlotte as another option to loop into a Dejounte Murray trade, with Lowry’s expiring giving the Hawks future cap relief in a deal wherein they shed salary. https://t.co/nQNx2fO6oH

The signs are nonetheless pointing toward a different outcome. The Charlotte Observer’s Roderick Boone cited a source who said the Hornets “will probably buy Lowry out of the remainder of his contract” when all is said and done.

Buyout Candidates2 of 2

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

This is where things get more interesting, with one team standing out as a clear landing spot.

Lowry is a native of Philadelphia, he has experience playing under Sixers head coach Nick Nurse, and perhaps most importantly, Philly has the flexibility to sign him if he gets waived by the Hornets.

The difference between Lowry and Patrick Beverley isn’t that significant at this point in their careers, but the former’s ability to space the floor (he’s shooting 38.5 percent on threes) would at least bring something different to the table.

If a move to Philadelphia doesn’t come together, then another team in the Atlantic Division makes obvious sense.

The OG Anunoby trade is working out nicely for the Knicks but did leave them a bit thin at point guard with Immanuel Quickley going the other way in the deal.

Longtime fans might get nightmares thinking about all of the notable names who have come through Madison Square Garden in the twilight of their NBA runs. Signing Lowry would give New York a good backup behind Jalen Brunson at a relatively low cost.