Kyle Lowry Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Kyle Lowry Expected To Return On Saturday

March 10th, 2023 at 10:02pm CST by Rory Maher

Heat point guard Kyle Lowry is traveling with the team and is expected to return to action on Saturday in Orlando, tweets Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Lowry has been battling left knee soreness, having last played on February 2. He has missed the past 15 games as a result of the injury, with Miami going 7-8 over that span.

The Heat reportedly dangled Lowry in trade talks ahead of last month’s deadline, but were unable to find any takers due to the combination of his age (he turns 37 in a couple weeks), large contract ($28.33MM this season, $29.68MM in 2023/24), and health problems.

A six-time All-Star and 2019 NBA champion with the Raptors, Lowry has seen his production drop off in ’22/23, likely in part due to his knee issue. He’s averaging 12.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.3 APG and 1.1 SPG on .396/.333/.855 shooting through 44 games (33.3 MPG).

It’s unclear if Lowry will immediately reclaim his spot in the starting lineup; Gabe Vincent had been starting in his place. The 17-year veteran has started every game in his first two years with the Heat and hasn’t come off the bench since the ’12/13 season, but it’s reasonable to assume he might be on a minutes restriction after a lengthy absence.

Lowry’s return comes at a critical time for the Heat, as they’re fighting for a top-six seed and a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. After beating Cleveland on Friday, they’re currently 36-32, the No. 7 seed in the East.

Injury Notes: Zion, Towns, Lowry, Love, Doncic

March 8th, 2023 at 1:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson remains sidelined indefinitely due to a right hamstring strain, and it doesn’t appear his return is imminent, Brian Windhorst of ESPN stated on the latest episode of his Hoop Collective podcast.

“He’s not close, I don’t think,” Windhorst said. “… I think his setback was significant, and so now you’re worried about a worse setback, so you’re going to be doubly cautious.”

While fellow ESPN reporter Marc J. Spears openly wondered whether Williamson might just be done for the season, Windhorst declined to go that far.

Still, with just four-and-a-half weeks left until the Pelicans’ regular season finale, time is running out for the star forward to return to action and make a meaningful impact in the playoff race. He hasn’t suited up for New Orleans since January 2.

Here are a few more injury-related notes from around the NBA:

After indicating on Tuesday that there’s no timetable for Karl-Anthony Towns‘ return, Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch provided another update on Wednesday, telling Paul Allen on KFAN in Minnesota that Towns is set to take another step forward in his rehab. “Today he’s going to have some live activity on the floor, the first time in forever,” Finch said (Twitter link via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic). “Some controlled, live action on the floor. I know he’s looking forward to that.”
Heat guard Kyle Lowry will miss his 14th consecutive game due to left knee soreness when Miami hosts the Cavaliers on Wednesday, but there’s still optimism he’ll return before the end of the season, and perhaps even within the next week, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. In other Heat injury news, Kevin Love (right rib contusion) has been upgraded to probable, so there’s a good chance he’ll be available to face his old team on Wednesday.
Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who has missed a few games due to minor injuries this season, hasn’t played in both ends of a back-to-back set since mid-November. However, after logging 34 minutes on Tuesday vs. Utah, he’s not on Dallas’ injury report for Wednesday’s contest in New Orleans, so he should be available, tweets ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

Erik Spoelstra Won’t Commit To Kyle Lowry’s Return

March 4th, 2023 at 7:33pm CST by Arthur Hill

Meeting with reporters before Saturday’s game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra refused to say whether he expects Kyle Lowry to play again before the end of the regular season, tweets Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.

Spoelstra added that Lowry continues to make progress with the soreness in his left knee that has now caused him to miss 12 consecutive games. The 36-year-old point guard was able to practice with the team last weekend, but he hasn’t played since February 2.

Lowry, who’s appeared in 44 games this season, has experienced a sharp decline in his production since signing with Miami two years ago. In 107 total games with the Heat, the six-time All-Star is averaging just 12.8 points and 6.6 assists per night and he’s in the midst of the worst shooting season of his 17-year career, hitting 39.6% from the field and 33.3% on three-pointers.

Lowry still has one season left on the three-year, $85MM contract he signed as a free agent in the summer of 2021. He’ll make $29.68MM next season before reaching free agency again in 2024.

Miami reportedly explored the trade market for Lowry before last month’s deadline, but found little to no interest because of his age, contract and injury woes. The Heat may try again to find a taker this summer in the hopes of getting Lowry’s salary removed from next season’s cap.

Heat Notes: Lowry, Dragic, Jovic, Yurtseven

March 1st, 2023 at 9:08am CST by Arthur Hill

Kyle Lowry will miss his 10th straight game Wednesday due to knee soreness, but the Heat haven’t been aggressively pursuing another point guard in the buyout market, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Lowry was flown to Philadelphia on Sunday and took part in a practice in hopes of playing Monday. He was briefly upgraded to questionable before being ruled out.

Jackson cites several factors for the team’s lack of urgency to find a replacement for Lowry, even with Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley and Reggie Jackson all receiving buyouts and John Wall still on the market. Heat officials remain confident that Lowry will eventually return and can still play at a high level, and they’re happy with how Gabe Vincent has performed in his absence.

Miami also believed it had greater needs in the frontcourt, Jackson notes, which is why Kevin Love and Cody Zeller were prioritized on the buyout market. The front office looked into Westbrook, a source tells Jackson, but decided not to pursue him due to deficiencies on defense and with three-point shooting, as well as a negative review from a league insider.

Jackson hears that the Heat also had interest in Kyrie Irving when he asked the Nets for a trade, but management wasn’t unanimous in believing he would be a good addition. Miami never aggressively pursued a deal with Brooklyn, according to Jackson’s sources.

There’s more from Miami:

Longtime Heat point guard Goran Dragic may seem like an obvious target after being waived by the Bulls Tuesday, but Jackson doesn’t expect him to wind up in Miami. He and the team still have a good relationship, but sources tell Jackson there are more likely destinations, including the Mavericks, where he could team with fellow Slovenian Luka Doncic.
After falling into seventh place during a recent losing streak, the Heat will open a crucial six-game home stand Wednesday as they try to avoid the play-in tournament, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. It’s not a position the team expected to be in, but Udonis Haslem said players are focused on landing a top-six spot. “I don’t operate well in losing spaces. I’m tired of losing like Jimmy (Butler),” Haslem said. “We just got to keep fighting, though. We got a locker room full of fighters, we got a locker room full of guys who have built their reputation off hard work and they wouldn’t be here without that. So we got to go back to our roots and what got us here — busting our [butt] and working hard.”
The Heat have assigned Nikola Jovic and Omer Yurtseven to their G League affiliate as they try to return from injuries, tweets Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Jovic has been sidelined since late December with a back injury, while Yurtseven is rehabbing from ankle surgery that has kept him out all season.

Heat Notes: Lowry, Love, Haslem, Cain

February 27th, 2023 at 7:41pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Heat guard Kyle Lowry missed his ninth consecutive game on Monday night due to left knee soreness but coach Erik Spoelstra provided an encouraging update, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. Lowry had been listed as questionable to play before being ruled out.

“I didn’t need that. I didn’t even see that he got upgraded,” Spoelstra said. “That’s more training staff and league-related just to cover yourself. I’m more encouraged just by the work he has been able to do the last 10 days. He’s definitely making progress. I don’t have a timetable for his return. But he’s certainly doing a lot more.”

We have more from the Heat:

By using their bi-annual exception to secure Kevin Love‘s services as a free agent, the Heat have put themselves in a slightly better position to re-sign him this summer, John Hollinger of The Athletic notes. They can now give him a 20% raise on that amount (up to $3.7MM) to re-sign him as a non-Bird free agent without using any other exception money.
When he finally retires, Udonis Haslem will explore becoming a minority owner of the Heat and remaining active in the team’s daily doings, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. “My commitment, even though I’ll be retired, is to be here just as much as the players and the staff and be committed to the process of the future and winning,” he said. “I look to take a path of ownership, but to be a working owner, not a guy who crosses his legs and sits on the sideline. I want to be a guy that connects the dots between the locker room and front office, connects the dots between the front office and the owners. Sometimes, you can miss things in those area.”
Two-way player Jamal Cain returned to the G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce prior to Monday’s game, according to Chiang. Cain played five minutes against the Bucks on Friday in his first NBA appearance since mid-January.

Southeast Notes: Butler, Lowry, Herro, Oubre Jr., Porzingis, Morris

February 26th, 2023 at 7:58pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Heat have lost four straight, including a five-point decision to the lottery-bound Hornets on Saturday, and Jimmy Butler is fed up, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. Butler said he was “tired of losing.”

The Heat recently added Kevin Love and Cody Zeller but that hasn’t turned their fortunes around in the short run. “I don’t think anybody in here wants to lose,” Butler said. “We’ve got to figure this out very, very quickly.”

We have more from the Southeast Division:

Kyle Lowry, who has been dealing with left knee soreness, has been upgraded to questionable for the Heat’s game against Philadelphia on Monday, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel tweets. Tyler Herro is listed as questionable due to a rib contusion.
Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is headed to unrestricted free agency this summer but it sounds as if he’d like to stay with the Hornets. Oubre said he still has a “lot to give” to the franchise, Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer tweets. I have a lot to give to this city, to this organization, to my teammates as far as my leadership and my life path,” he said.
Kristaps Porzingis missed the Wizards’ game on Sunday due to left knee soreness, while Monte Morris sat out with lower back soreness, the team’s PR department tweets.

Heat Notes: Love, Martin, Lowry, Yurtseven

February 24th, 2023 at 7:27pm CST by Rory Maher

New addition Kevin Love got the surprise start at power forward on Friday night for the Heat, tweets Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. That moves Caleb Martin to the bench for the first time in 2022/23, Winderman adds (via Twitter).

Head coach Erik Spoelstra said it was a bit surprising that Love was available and a called the decision to sign him a “no-brainer,” Winderman writes in a story for The Sun Sentinel.

“First you go through the trade deadline and see if there was anything that makes sense, and there really wasn’t.” Spoelstra said. “And then you’re just hopeful, you’re not really sure of who’s going to get bought out. And you hear rumors. This one was a little bit of a surprise. And then when Kevin became available or at least there was possible discussion about it, everybody was all in on it. It was a no-brainer. The fit just makes a lot of sense for all of us.”

Part of the reason I’m surprised that Love got the starting nod is that Martin has been solid this season, averaging 10.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 1.0 SPG on .454/.361/.764 shooting in 49 games (30.3 MPG). The other reason I’m surprised is that Love had been out of Cleveland’s rotation for the final 12 games leading into the All-Star break, which is reportedly why he wanted a buyout — this is his first appearance in a month.

Here’s more from Miami:

The team’s other recent addition, center Cody Zeller, was the first reserve to enter for the Heat in Friday’s contest, notes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (via Twitter). Zeller spent his first eight seasons in Charlotte, but played for Portland in ’21/22.
Point guard Kyle Lowry, who has been dealing with knee soreness, isn’t traveling with the team this weekend, but there’s a chance he could rejoin the team in Philadelphia on Monday, per Winderman (Twitter link).
According to Jackson, the Heat are weighing the possibility of using Lowry off the bench when he returns, though that decision also depends on how well Gabe Vincent and the Heat perform in his absence. Lowry heard his name pop up in trade rumors, but no deal was made. Jackson writes that Lowry and the Heat are on good terms and they’re confident on his knee prognosis, which played a factor in Miami adding two frontcourt players and not another ball-handler.
The plan is for Omer Yurtseven to play with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, in about a week, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald (subscriber link). Yurtseven is ramping up for his season debut following ankle surgery. “It’s going to be South Dakota, play in Sioux Falls for a bit and then feel good and move on,” Yurtseven said. “Step by step.”

Kyle Lowry Hopes To Return Before End Of Month

February 19th, 2023 at 2:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Left knee soreness kept Heat point guard Kyle Lowry out of action for the last six games before the All-Star break and there was some concern that he could miss a few more weeks beyond the break. However, a source tells Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link) that Lowry now hopes to return to the lineup by the end of the month.

Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald confirms Reynolds’ report, tweeting that Lowry’s knee has improved and that he’s targeting a return on February 27 or shortly thereafter. According to Reynolds, the Heat should have a clearer picture of Lowry’s outlook in the coming days, but there have been “encouraging signs.”

Lowry, who has battled health issues over the course of his second season in Miami, is averaging 12.0 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per game across 44 appearances. His shooting numbers (.396/.333/.855) have been disappointing and are well below his career rates, but Jackson says the coaching staff still believes the 36-year-old can help the team.

According to Jackson, the Heat’s optimism about Lowry’s prognosis was a factor in their decision to sign two big men in free agency – Kevin Love and Cody Zeller – rather than using one of their open roster spots on a guard.

As Jackson tweets, Gabe Vincent has performed well in Lowry’s absence, and if the six-time All-Star’s knee issues continue to plague him down the stretch, the club is comfortable turning to Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Victor Oladipo for ball-handling responsibilities when Vincent is off the floor.

Jackson’s reporting suggests that Lowry may be ruled out for the Heat’s two first games coming out of the break, in Milwaukee on Feb. 24 and Charlotte on Feb. 24. The team’s Feb. 27 contest is in Lowry’s hometown of Philadelphia. If he’s unable to suit up for that one, his next chance to return would be at home vs. the Sixers on March 1.

Heat Notes: Love, Adebayo, Westbrook, Yurtseven, O. Robinson

February 18th, 2023 at 7:32pm CST by Arthur Hill

Heat players are excited about the prospect of adding Kevin Love to their current roster, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Miami is considered to be the frontrunner to sign the veteran big man once he clears waivers, with a source telling Chiang that Love is intrigued by the possibility of regular playing time and the chance to team up with veteran stars Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler.

Adebayo and Tyler Herro both received questions about Love on Saturday during All-Star Weekend media sessions. In addition to the talent upgrade, they pointed out that Love would bring plenty of postseason experience.

“Anytime we can get somebody the caliber of Kevin Love, he’s played in so many big games, so many big playoff runs and he’s experienced,” Herro said. “He’s been there before. Getting a guy like that, we’ve seen what we can do if we add veteran players like that midway through the season. Usually that leads to good runs and long playoff runs for us as a team.”

There’s more from Miami:

Adebayo is in the second season of a five-year extension, and team president Pat Riley hopes to keep in him Miami long after that contract expires, Chiang notes in a separate story. Riley sees the 25-year-old center as a franchise cornerstone and a candidate to spend his entire career with the Heat. “It’s been a blessing to have him,” Riley said. “I go back to (Alonzo Mourning) and ‘Zo was a franchise face and then Dwyane (Wade) along with Udonis (Haslem), and now I look at Bam the same way because of longevity. I see Bam here, I hope, for his whole career.”
Miami is considered a potential destination for Russell Westbrook if he pursues a buyout with the Jazz, but the feedback Heat officials have gotten while investigating Westbrook has been “mixed” at best, tweets Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Jackson hears that the team expects Kyle Lowry to be productive once he returns from his knee issues, so adding a big man is a greater priority than finding a point guard.
The Heat are facing a decision between Omer Yurtseven and Orlando Robinson, not only for backup center minutes for the rest of the season, but probably in offseason contract talks as well, per Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Yurtseven, who is still awaiting his season debut after undergoing ankle surgery in November, has an expiring contract and can be made a restricted free agent with a $2.2MM qualifying offer. Robinson can only be active for four more games on his two-way contract and would have to be converted to a standard deal to play beyond that.

Heat Notes: Yurtseven, Lowry, O. Robinson, Ibaka

February 13th, 2023 at 10:52am CST by Arthur Hill

The Heat’s approach to the buyout market may depend on the prognosis for Omer Yurtseven and Kyle Lowry, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Miami will have two roster openings when Jamaree Bouyea‘s two-way contract expires and will have to fill at least one of them within two weeks of that date.

Yurtseven is recovering after undergoing left ankle surgery in November and is expected to make his season debut shortly after the All-Star break. He appeared in 56 games as a rookie last season and might be entrusted with the backup center minutes. If the Heat are confident in Yurtseven, they may not look to add a free agent big man.

Chiang notes that the team’s level of confidence in Yurtseven could also affect Orlando Robinson, who has been the reserve center for the past month but can only be on the active roster for six more games on his two-way contract. Miami could fill one of its roster spots by converting Robinson to a standard deal, which would make him eligible for the playoffs, but the need to do that is lessened if Yurtseven takes over as the backup center.

Lowry, who’s dealing with soreness in his left knee, is expected to miss the rest of February and maybe more time beyond that, according to Chiang. The Heat are rumored to be a potential suitor for Russell Westbrook if he reaches a buyout with Utah, and Lowry’s health could affect how they proceed.

There’s more on the Heat:

There may be mutual interest with Serge Ibaka, who was waived by the Pacers over the weekend, Chiang adds. The 33-year-old only played 16 games for the Bucks before being traded, but he could provide shot blocking and outside shooting, along with a wealth of playoff experience.
Chiang points out that Miami can be competitive on the buyout market following last week’s trade of Dewayne Dedmon. The Heat are now almost $5MM under the threshold, allowing them to use their $4.1MM bi-annual exception or the roughly $3.2MM left on their mid-level exception without facing tax penalties.
Lowry’s injury may open the door to making him a bench player once he returns, suggests Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Even when healthy, Lowry hasn’t been up to his usual standards this season, averaging just 12.0 PPG while shooting 39.6% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. Gabe Vincent has been starting at point guard while Lowry is sidelined, and a buyout addition could take over that job for the rest of the season.