Miami Heat: 5 realistic free-agent targets this offseason

Miami Heat free-agent target 1. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors

Age: 35

2020-21 salary: $30 million

Heavily reported as being a serious trade acquisition prior to this season’s trade deadline, Kyle Lowry ticks a lot of boxes as it pertains to the Heat’s requirements this offseason. While only standing 6’0″, Lowry has been incredibly consistent for a sustained period of time, having just completed his 15th season in the league.

A six-time All-Star, Lowry played in just 46 games last season as the Toronto Raptors missed the postseason for the first time since 2014. Despite having a tough time getting on the floor, Lowry still produced when available, averaging 17.2 points, 7.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds. As a result, Lowry has now averaged 18.3 points, 7.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 3-pointers made and 1.5 steals over his last eight seasons. Per Stathead, James Harden is the only other player in NBA history to have posted these numbers over an eight-season span.

This past season, a combination of Tyler Herro, Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn assumed the lead point guard duties for the Heat, with both Dragic and Nunn now out of contract and uncertain to return. But unlike this trio, Lowry does not falter at the defensive end of the floor.

Among many factors contributing to the Heat’s struggles, the lack of defensive prowess in the backcourt was glaring, thus presenting an overall low supply of genuine two-way players. But adding the unrestricted free agent would take a great deal of strain away from coach Spoelstra when either Butler or Adebayo are not on the floor. Overall, his ability to play-make, shoot from the outside and defend on the perimeter makes Lowry one of the most desirable of the getable free agents on the market.

Ultimately, it’s likely to come down to the financial component of the transaction. Recently, Lowry commented on his approach to free agency:

"“My family will be a major factor in this. Also, money talks, and years talk, and all that stuff. Let’s be real. I play this game for the love of the game but at the end of the day, I want to make sure my family is still taken care of for generations and the time to come.”"

Given his age, output and recent salary, a two-year deal in the $50 million range would be a reasonable prediction for Lowry this summer. A close personal friend of Butler, the Heat have the necessary cap space to add a player such as Lowry and his accompanying salary.

And when you take into account his desire to secure another championship and his continued level of high production, a Kyle Lowry and Miami Heat partnership seems the most appealing of the feasible options this offseason.