The Miami Heat have the biggest piece in their title-chase puzzle in place.
The Heat and Toronto Raptors completed a sign-and-trade deal on Friday that brings Kyle Lowry to Miami in exchange for forward Precious Achiuwa and guard Goran Dragic.
Lowry has a new, three-year, $85 million contract.
“Kyle Lowry is a great leader and an exceptional defender,” Heat president Pat Riley said in a team-issued statement. “As a point guard, he will bring important skills to run the offense, score the ball and defend with the very best.”
Lowry put up averages last season of 17.2 points, 7.3 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 34.8 minutes. He shot 43.6 percent from the field (39.6 percent from 3-point range) and 87.5 percent at the free-throw line.
Lowry has played 15 NBA seasons — with Memphis, Houston and Toronto — and has averaged 14.9 points, 6.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.34 steals and 31.8 minutes over 960 career games (724 starts).
Miami is eager to play the postseason with Lowry, who has extensive experience. He has appeared in 97 playoff games, averaging 15.5 points, 5.8 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.36 steals in 35 minutes per game.
Achiuwa, 21, was the No. 20 overall selection in the 2020 draft out of Memphis. He averaged five points and 3.4 rebounds in 61 games (four starts) for Miami as a rookie.
Dragic, 35, averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds for the Heat last season, similar to his career norms of 13.9 points, 4.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 13 NBA seasons.
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–Field Level Media