The Heat have reportedly decided against waiving and stretching Kyle Lowry’s contract, instead opting to focus on trading him for Damian Lillard or exploring other potential deals, according to Barry Jackson of Miami Herald.
While the Heat had considered the waive-and-stretch provision, they ultimately deemed the future cap hits of $9.9 million per season burdensome. Ideally, Miami aims to trade Lowry in a package for Lillard or to a team that can absorb his salary and provide a useful player at a significantly lower cost.
However, this option may prove challenging due to the limited number of teams with the necessary cap space. Despite the trade discussions, the Heat acknowledge Lowry’s valuable contributions during the playoffs and his professionalism when transitioning to a bench role. The 37-year-old veteran averaged 11.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game this past season.
