2021 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
By Duncan Smith
Kyle Lowry – 3 years, $90 million (Miami Heat)
The Miami Heat landed the biggest fish in the NBA free agency pond, acquiring Kyle Lowry from the Toronto Raptors in a sign-and-trade. This is a win for the Heat, although time will tell how much the 35-year-old Lowry actually moves the needle for a squad trying to work their way up the ranks in the East behind the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets.
Still, you can never complain about getting the best player available on the board, and once players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Paul George signed extensions with their current teams, Lowry became the cream of the 2021 crop.
Lowry had a solid season for the Raptors last year, averaging 17.2 points, 7.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game on shooting splits of 44-40-88, and he should be a great addition to a roster with Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo.
The money is a lot, but from a talent perspective for a team hoping to compete for championships in the next three years, he does elevate their chances and opens their window slightly.