Kyle Lowry could land with 1 big-name team via buyout market?

Oct 4, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) warms up prior to the game against the Atlanta Hawks at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

As his NBA career nears the end, Kyle Lowry may be jumping the shark.

Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported in his mailbag this week that Lowry is a name to watch for the Los Angeles Lakers. Lowry would be a potential target for the Lakers if he gets bought out by the Charlotte Hornets, who acquired him earlier this week in the Terry Rozier trade with Miami, Buha adds.

The 37-year-old Lowry, a six-time All-Star, is making $29.7 million this year. According to the CBA rules just implemented this season, that would make Lowry ineligible to sign with any team above the second luxury-tax apron (those teams can only sign buyout-market guys making up to $12.4 million). As a team below that second apron though, the Lakers may be a very real possibility for Lowry.

Lowry does not do much scoring-wise these days, averaging 8.2 points per game on 42.6 percent from the field. But he can still run a second unit and be a candidate for crunchtime minutes with his calm hand at the controls and his ability to always be in the right place defensively. That is veteran acumen that the Lakers, down a couple of players with injury right now, might really benefit from.