There is a perception around the league that Kyle Lowry’s tenure with the Miami Heat is ending soon. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today reported on January 12th that Miami wants to trade Kyle Lowry before the deadline to open up cap space for this summer.

The Heat are notoriously tight-lipped about their plans. But around the league, it’s believed the Heat are willing to shed Kyle Lowry’s contract, which pays him $29.6 million in 2023-24. The Heat, who reached the Finals in 2020 and the conference finals last season, are 21-20 and in eighth place. Lowry is another player who has been linked to a potential deal with the Lakers, and Minnesota sending D’Angelo Russell to Miami for Lowry would net the Heat an expiring contract.

Kyle Lowry’s role

However, it would benefit the Miami Heat to wait until the offseason to trade him, as there is no point guard with an expiring contract that can improve the team. Head coach Erik Spoelstra has used Kyle Lowry primarily as a floor spacer during his tenure with the team. For example, Kyle Lowry brought the ball up the court early in the first quarter of a game against the Suns on January 6th.

Once he reached the three-point line, Lowry passed the ball to Bam Adebayo. After he passed the ball, Lowry stood behind the arc near the top of the key for the rest of the possessions. Lowry’s role has led to him taking 62.8 percent of his shots from behind the arc this season, averaging 9.2 per game. 43.5 percent of Lowry’s three-point attempts have been catch and shoots, as he is averaging 4 per game this season.

The Miami Heat should wait until the offseason to trade Lowry

Lowry’s current role with the Miami Heat means the team is unlikely to find a meaningful upgrade before the deadline. For example, D’Angelo Russell (the main player rumored to be in a Lowry trade) has made 35.3% of his catch-and-shoot threes on 3.7 attempts per game.

Russell’s average catch-and-shoot statistics have hindered his three-point shooting numbers, as it accounts for 50.7% of his attempts. Russell has 34.7% from behind the arc since the 2021-22 season on 7.3 shots per game.

Miami would be better off waiting until the offseason to trade Kyle Lowry, as he will be on an expiring contract. Expiring contracts hold a high value in the league as teams constantly look for cap flexibility or to lower their tax bills. For example, the Chicago Bulls traded Jamal Crawford to the Knicks in 2004 for multiple expiring contracts.

After the trade, former Bulls general manager John Paxton stated the team made the trade to gain financial flexibility and relief. Chicago would gain $18 million in cap space.Consequently, the Heat likely gets a better asset for Lowry this summer due to the value of expiring contracts.