The Miami Heat came into this season with expectations of continuing their strong record with Jimmy Butler of being a consistent playoff team in the East.
Kyle Lowry was supposed to be their championship-level point guard but has struggled this season. Respected Miami sports journalist Barry Jackson revealed on Twitter that the Heat thought they’d get more bang for their buck with Lowry.
They didn't expect this from Lowry. They thought they were getting all star PG
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) March 30, 2023
The Heat naturally wouldn’t have given Lowry a 3-year, $85 million contract if they expected him to produce at the rate he’s doing. However, the decline of small and aging point guards is essentially unavoidable. It seems Lowry has hit that point too. The playoffs may make him more usable due to his slower pace. If his production remains the same, he may be detrimental to the Heat.
Lowry is averaging 11.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.2 rebounds on 40.4% shooting from the field.
Are There Solutions For Miami At This Point?
The Heat aren’t in the top tier of the East anymore, going from being the No. 1 seed last season to fighting to get out of the play-in tournament this year. If they are in the playoffs, the easiest solution will be running the ball through Jimmy Butler as a point forward. Tyler Herro can also play as their point guard for extended minutes.
The lack of usable depth on the Heat roster makes it hard for them to hide Lowry at this point, as he needs to produce at some level to justify his inclusion in the team. His decline had started in his final season with Toronto, so the contract the Heat handed him in the sign-and-trade to acquire him might have been a bad decision.
Hopefully, Erik Spoelstra can get some utility out of Lowry. Otherwise, the Heat will get another year older on the Butler contract without competing for the title.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
