The latest batch of Kyle Lowry trade rumors seems to have plenty of muster to them, as the Miami Heat reportedly “covet” the Toronto Raptors point guard despite the fact that Masai Ujiri has been very tight-lipped about his true intentions at the deadline. However, the latest intel from Kevin O’Connor throws names like Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson into the equation.
Lowry is averaging 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game this season, showing that even as he approaches 35 years old, he is one of the league’s best point guards. With the Heat in need of some backcourt help alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt, the impending free agent could make a lot of sense.
Miami has a need for Lowry, but there is no way they’d surrender a piece of their young core or what little draft capital they have left to make this trade happen, right? Well, The Ringer seems to hint at Herro and Robinson being available.
O’Connor reported that the Raptors would require either Herro or Robinson in a trade to send away Lowry. O’Connor also mentioned the fact that either veteran point guard Goran Dragic or Canadian big Kelly Olynyk would need to be on the move. The Heat can offer Toronto first-round picks in 2025 and 2027.
O’Connor also claimed that if Lowry leaves Toronto, Miami would be his top destination in terms of trade partners.
Sources: The Hawks and Bulls are both pursuing a trade for Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball. Talks with Atlanta have revolved around Cam Reddish.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) March 21, 2021
More on @ringer: https://t.co/Oxqp8VMeLd
How would getting Herro or Robinson for Kyle Lowry help the Toronto Raptors?
Herro, a former No. 13 overall pick out of Kentucky, is in the middle of another excellent season. While his 3-point percentage has dipped to 32%, his 15.5 points, 3.4 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game are all topping what he did during his standout rookie season. Herro could be a long-term building block in Toronto, and Ujiri would pinch himself if Herro was offered for Lowry.
Robinson, a restricted free agent at the end of the year, isn’t as attractive given his contract status and awful defense, but he has value. While he is shooting 38% from 3-point range this year, his 44% success rate on 8.3 attempts per game in 2019-20 and his 12.7 points per game average this year makes him one of the game’s best shooters and a perfect fit for Toronto.
The Raptors are bereft of depth right now at nearly every position, and they could unload either Lowry or sensational scorer Norman Powell if it meant that they could get a player like Herro or Robinson as the headliner in a package that brings multiple players north of the border.
Trading Lowry might be hard to stomach for most Raptors fans, but the Heat giving away one of those two in exchange for an aging free agent could be a steal for Toronto.