| August 12, 2021, 12:31 PM
August 12, 2021, 12:31 PM
As the smoke clears after the initial flurry of the start of NBA free agency, details are starting to emerge from the all the wheeling and dealing.
In the case of Kyle Lowry, one of the top players on the market, while the Miami Heat ultimately convinced the 35-year-old to leave Toronto — his NBA home for the past nine seasons — they actually had the second-best offer on the table.
Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the New Orleans Pelicans were willing to give the six-time all-star $90 million over three years or more, but Lowry didn't have any interest in uprooting to The Big Easy.
Lowry ended up joining the Heat and "one of his best friends" in Jimmy Butler on a three-year, $85-million deal via a sign-and-trade, which saw veteran guard Goran Dragic and forward Precious Achiuwa head to Toronto.
The Pelicans ended up settling for Devonte’ Graham at the point guard position, acquiring him from the Charlotte Hornets as part of a sign-and-trade of their own.
The other top club in the Lowry bidding appears to have been the Dallas Mavericks, who hoped to pair him with Luka Doncic, but, per Jackson, finished as runners-up to the Heat. According to Jackson, Lowry was said to be intrigued by the Mavericks, who were willing to meet his asks, but he preferred playing alongside Butler in Miami.
The Mavericks have since been rumoured to be eyeing a trade with the Raptors for Doncic's countryman, Dragic.
