Hornets aiming to trade Kyle Lowry following deal with Heat

To the surprise of no one, 37-year-old point guard Kyle Lowry will not remain with the Charlotte Hornets following the team’s trade with the Miami Heat.

The Hornets are acquiring Lowry from the Heat in exchange for guard Terry Rozier and a 2027 first-round pick, as we relayed here.

Charlotte intends to flip Lowry and his $29.6 million expiring contract to another team in a trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. If the Hornets can’t find a trade before the Feb. 8 deadline, they could potentially work on a buyout of his contract.

“One league source suggested the Hornets will probably buy Lowry out of the remainder of his contract, giving the veteran opportunity to choose his next destination similar to what happened when Charlotte acquired Reggie Jackson last year,” wrote Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. 

The Heat originally signed Lowry to a three-year, $85 million deal in August 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade arrangement with the Toronto Raptors. 

This season, he’s averaging 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals, shooting 43 percent from the field and 39 percent on 3-pointers. 

Lowry is a six-time All-Star. and carries NBA career averages of 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.3 steals with the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Raptors and Heat. He was also a member of the Raptors’ 2019 championship team.

Meanwhile, more trades could be on the way for Charlotte (10-31), who is said to be open to moving everyone other than point guard LaMelo Ball, rookie forward Brandon Miller and center Mark Williams.

Under the new CBA rules, contenders such as Phoenix, Milwaukee, Boston, and Denver cannot acquire Kyle Lowry through the buyout market, as his salary exceeds the Mid-Level Exception threshold, per @basketballtalk pic.twitter.com/FIU3kZvTX5

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 23, 2024