Once NBA teams can begin negotiating with prospective free agents on Monday, the Miami Heat are expected to become the front-runners to land Kyle Lowry from the Toronto Raptors.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Heat are prepared to offer the Raptors a sign-and-trade package that includes Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa for Lowry after free agency opens at 6 p.m. EDT. The Heat could also include future draft assets, as well.
Lowry is reportedly seeking $30 million annually over multiple years on his next contract. He has long been open to the idea of joining Jimmy Butler in Miami and has apparently held the organization in high regard recently.
Lowry has long been intrigued with joining Heat star Jimmy Butler and the Miami organization, and now Miami has maneuvered to have two key elements of a possible sign-and-trade package — guard Goran Dragic and forward Precious Achiuwa — to offer the Raptors once talks can ensue at 6 p.m. ET Monday, sources said.
Miami picked up its $19.4 million team option on Dragic’s contract on Sunday, paving the way for the team to use it in trade negotiations. The Raptors could eventually flip Dragic to another team after acquiring him from the Heat.
The inclusion of Achiuwa in the potential deal would give the Raptors a promising young player they can add to their core. Achiuwa, who was the 20th overall pick last year, averaged five points and 3.4 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game last season.
Achiuwa averaged eight points and 4.7 rebounds with Nigeria in the Tokyo Olympics.
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With Lowry expected to test free agency, the Raptors are motivated to find a trade for him to avoid losing him for nothing. The trade with Miami could net them a promising young player in Achiuwa and a player in Dragic that they can flip again for future assets or players.
The start of free agency is always a frenzy in the NBA and this year should prove to be no different with Miami and Toronto expected to get things kicked off quickly.
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