FEBRUARY 11: Lowry’s buyout is now official and he has been waived, the Hornets have announced (Twitter link). He’ll become a free agent on Tuesday and will be able to sign with Philadelphia at that time.
FEBRUARY 10: Kyle Lowry has reached a buyout agreement with the Hornets, agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Lowry intends to sign with the Sixers once he clears waivers, Wojnarowski adds.
It will be a homecoming for Lowry, who grew up in Philadelphia and played at Villanova, Wojnarowski states (Twitter link). The move will also reunite Lowry with Nick Nurse, his long-time coach in Toronto.
A video announcing Lowry’s decision was posted on Twitter by Priority Sports.
The Sixers will pay Lowry $2.8MM for the rest of the season, Bartelstein tells Woj (Twitter link). The team is $4.9MM below the tax threshold and has nearly $10MM of its non-taxpayer mid-level exception remaining, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN. He adds that Lowry was still owed about $10.61MM left of his $29.7MM salary for 2023/24 before the buyout.
In a full story on Lowry’s decision, Wojnarowski identifies the Bulls and Pelicans as other teams that had interest in signing Lowry after a buyout.
Lowry had been expected to pursue a buyout in Charlotte ever since Miami sent him there in a January 23 trade involving Terry Rozier. Lowry never played for the Hornets, and he will have been off for more than a month if he doesn’t suit up for the Sixers before the All-Star break.
The 37-year-old point guard started 35 of the 37 games he appeared in with the Heat this season, but his playing time dropped to its lowest level in more than a decade and his numbers were down across the board. Lowry was averaging 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 28 minutes per night.
He will bring a veteran presence with plenty of playoff experience to the Sixers, who have been reeling since Joel Embiid was lost with a knee injury. Philadelphia only has 12 players on its 15-man roster in the wake of the trade deadline, so a corresponding move won’t be necessary to add Lowry. His departure leaves Charlotte with one roster opening.
Join the 76ers as they don’t make it out of the 1st round!
I hope you feel better no that you said that!!
Lowry Maxey Oubre Harris Embiid
Melton Heild Batum Reed
Payne RoCo Martin Bamba
Happy with that team but still the east looks really tough this year. Don’t want to face Boston. Milwaukee on paper are still tough, Cleveland is loaded with good players, NY just loaded up at the deadline, even Indy upgraded and Miami is never easy.
A lot will ride on the small things. Injuries, coaching decisions, referring calls, etc etc
Looking forward to it, all I hope is it’s not Boston
Meh, if Embiid is Embiid then I only worry at all about the first two. If he isn’t then it doesn’t matter anyway.
I don’t know he’s very free throw reliant and come the playoffs he won’t get the same amount of whistles.
Plus we don’t have a defensive stopper on the perimeter and Spida and Brunson can both go off for 50/60 at ease that’s a worry for me.
You “don’t worry at all” about Milwaukee or Cleveland?
That’s odd. I’m a Celtics fan and I do.
Milwaukee yes, cleveland no
Lineup will prob look like this the team is in full health:
Maxey – Hield – Harris – Batum – Embiid
Lowry – Melton – Oubre – RoCo – Reed
Payne, Martin, Mo
Definitely the most depth on an Embiid team ever. Of course, the road to the Finals still go through Boston in the East, but the 76ers can be a tough out, especially if Embiid stops playing with the crowd and just focuses on demolishing the other team.
That’s a good squad if all healthy
I wonder what the plan woulda been if Joel was healthy at the deadline
Add Caruso to that mix and it’s top shelf, it’s just missing a point of attack defender
Slide Paul to power forward Batum is a liability especially with Joel injury. Cov seems to be unhappy so they may needto tight up their lineup.
Great pick up. Lowry is getting older but brings championship experience. Needs to be consistent with his shot but solid pickup
Lowry is smart go to a team that needs him and will give him minutes on the floor.
It’s never too late …….. right.
He can help as a backup PG. And vet leadership. Sixers need all the help they can get. Just worry about this yr.
One thing the injury shows Embiid is the MVP of the league because without Embiid they are a lottery team. With him they are a top 4 team in the east.
the bucks without giannis. lottery.
Giannis has better of players around him than Embiid.
You think the Nuggets would do anything without Jokic or the Thunder wouldn’t plummet without Shai, the Mavs without Luka?
You think if they got rid of the basketball anyone would score??
Bro MAHALO for my first belly laugh of the day!
Yes wilt the stilt would still score .
It’s a solid move to help get thru the season. Anything can happen in the playoffs. Just get there. Injuries happen all over, teams choke, Sixers choked last year, Celtics also choked last year.
They need to address Center. I’d honestly 10 day Boogie, the options are so limited. Meyers Leonard, Robin Lopez, Nerlens, Jah?
They also need a SF/PF. Gallo would be my first choice. Fournier if BO. TJ Warren is out there too. Bazely is on the Blue Coats. If not them, Bertans ?
Just need bodies. No clue why they kept RoCo if he’s on the shelf. They could have done RoCo, Furkan and House idk wth they were thinking. Would have Kept Morris or used him in another trade. Whole thing is a head scratcher.
Relax man. Now you see how big a part Embiid is. Just get healthy and take it from there. Next yr with cap space. You can add what you want. Just need Embiid healthy.
Once PG13 resigns, the off-season is done. Worst offseason to have cap flex.