Heat loses second-round pick for violating NBA rules in Lowry trade
The result from the NBA investigation into the Miami Heat’s signand-trade acquisition of Kyle Lowry from the Toronto Raptors is finally in.
The NBA announced Wednesday that the Heat will need to give up its next available secondround draft pick because of “early free agency discussions” that violated league rules. The Heat was not fined.
If the Heat makes the playoffs this season, as expected, its next available second-round pick would come in the 2022 draft as the lesser of the Denver Nuggets or Philadelphia 76ers’ secondround selection. If the Heat doesn’t make the playoffs this season, its second-round pick payment could come as late as 2028 because of its lack of second-round draft capital moving forward.
The league’s investigation, which was launched nearly four months ago in August, focused on whether the Heat made contact with Lowry or a Lowry representative regarding the trade and a contract prior to the Aug. 2 start of free agency. The NBA ruled that the team made contact with a representative of Lowry before free-agent negotiations were allowed to begin, according to a league source.
“While we disagree, we accept the league’s decision. We are moving on with our season,” the Heat said in a statement in reaction to the NBA’s ruling.
In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, the NBA announced that the “Chicago Bulls and
Miami Heat each violated league rules governing the timing of this season’s free agency discussions and that the league has directed that each team’s next available secondround draft pick be forfeited.”
The Bulls also need to give up their next available second-round pick after the NBA investigated the timing surrounding their sign-and-trade acquisition of Lonzo Ball this past offseason from the New Orleans Pelicans.
Two years ago, the NBA raised the maximum tampering fine to $10 million and also said that tampering could result in forfeiture of draft picks, suspension of team executives or even voiding of contracts.
But the NBA did not use the word “tampering” when announcing the penalty imposed on Miami since the league did not find that the Heat made early contact with Lowry himself.
The deal that landed Lowry with the Heat and sent Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa to the Raptors was agreed to shortly after free-agent negotiations were permitted to begin Aug. 2 at 6 p.m., as Lowry announced his decision to join Miami with a post on his Twitter account at 6:38 p.m that day.
The Heat was allowed to speak with the Raptors about the parameters of a trade before the start of free agency. But to complete a sign-and-trade, a team also must negotiate a new contract with the free agent it’s acquiring in the deal.
By league rule, the team must not make contact with the free agent involved in the sign-andtrade transaction or their agent until the start of free agency.
Lowry signed a threeyear contract worth $85 million with Miami to complete the move. The Heat exercised Dragic’s $19.4 million team option for this season on the eve of free agency on Aug. 1, which allowed Miami to use him in the sign-andtrade deal with Toronto.
At least one NBA team issued a complaint about the Heat potentially violating league rules during its pursuit of Lowry, with the league then opening an investigation. Multiple Western Conference teams expressed interest in Lowry ahead of free agency, including the Dallas Mavericks and
New Orleans Pelicans, but teams reportedly shifted their focus elsewhere when the Heat established itself as the front-runner.
An important layer in the Heat’s case is it also pursued Lowry at the March trade deadline, and the interest between the Heat and Lowry was mutual at that time. The Raptors kept Lowry at the deadline in part because of the Heat’s reluctance to include Tyler Herro in offers, but that negotiation process allowed Miami to get a read on who Toronto would be interested in from its roster and confirmed that Lowry had interest in joining the Heat.
It doesn’t hurt that
Heat star Jimmy Butler is close friends with Lowry, who is the godfather of Butler’s daughter Rylee.
Lowry entered Wednesday’s home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers averaging 12.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists in his first season with the Heat.
BOOSTED
The NBA and Players Association issued guidance in early November that recommended players, coaches and referees receive a booster shot if they are at least two months removed from a Johnson and Johnson vaccine or at least six months removed from either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
The Heat, which has a fully vaccinated roster, moved forward with booster shots in recent weeks.
Those who are vaccinated but choose not to get a booster could be forced to return to mandatory COVID-19 testing on game days beginning in December, in some cases.
PUSH-UPS FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Heat captain Udonis Haslem will be hosting a push-up challenge benefiting his Children’s Foundation and Make-A-Wish Southern Florida.
The event is scheduled for Dec. 12 at Anatomy in Coconut Grove. Participants are expected to include head coach Eric Spoelstra, Heat assistant coach Caron Butler,
Heat strength and conditioning coach Eric Foran and Heat executive Michael McCullough with a goal of raising $250,000.
Prior to the challenge, each of the participants will collect monetary pledges donated on a per push-up basis.
That group of five, including Haslem, will raise money and do pushups together aiming to complete 2,000 push-ups in an hour with the goal of each push-up being worth a minimum of $30.
More details are available at pushupchallenge .anatomyfitness.com.