The Heat appear to be making Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry a priority in free agency, but could turn their attention to Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, per Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
It seems as if the Heat would only pursue Dinwddie if things didn’t work out with Lowry, Jackson and Chiang wrote.
Both Lowry and Dinwiddie will be unrestricted free agents. Per Jackson and Chiang, Lowry may be seeking a three-year deal that pays him $30 million annually.
Along with the Heat, the Lakers, Mavericks, 76ers and Pelicans have all been linked to a pursuit of Lowry. A return to the Raptors isn’t out of the question is the price is right.
A source told Jackson and Chiang that “Lowry holds the Heat in high regard — and is close with Jimmy Butler — but isn’t necessarily inclined to accept less from Miami if one of those other teams offers more.”
Meanwhile, Dinwiddie has also been linked to the Lakers and several others. He missed all but the first few games of last season with a torn ACL, but is still considered a potentially valuable addition for a number of teams.
Lowry, 35, averaged 17.2 points and 7.3 rebounds in 46 games this past season. He is a native of Philadelphia. It seems the odds are long that he actually returns to the Raptors, who may look for his replacement with the No. 4 overall pick.
“Among the other potential suitors for Lowry, the Knicks would have the easiest path to accommodate Lowry if they choose; New York has $47 million in cap space,” Jackson and Chiang wrote.
Dinwiddie, 28, is 6-foot-5 and averaged career-highs of 20.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in 64 games during the 2019-20 season.
Warriors free agent forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is another player drawing interest from the Heat, per Drew Schiller of NBC Sports Bay Area.
The free agency period begins Aug. 2. You can check out our full list of 2021 free agents here.
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