Report: Heat, Mavs, Pelicans aggressively pursuing Lowry

A trio of teams have emerged as front-runners for Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, and they're making him their top target this offseason.

The Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, and New Orleans Pelicans are set to pursue the impending free agent once the league's negotiation window opens at 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 2, NBA insider Marc Stein reports.

Lowry notably has a close relationship with Heat star Jimmy Butler, which could give Miami a slight edge in recruiting the floor general this summer, Stein notes.

The 35-year-old dealt with a foot infection and was rested on multiple occasions down the stretch of the 2020-21 campaign. Lowry averaged 17.2 points and 7.3 assists while shooting 39.6% from 3-point range across 46 games last season.

Lowry is one of the most beloved players in Raptors history. He's made six All-Star appearances during his nine-year run with the organization and ranks atop multiple franchise statistical leaderboards, including assists (4,277), steals (873), 3-point field goals made (1,518), and triple-doubles (16). He also ranks second in points (10,540) behind DeMar DeRozan.

Lowry signed a one-year, $30.5-million contract to remain with Toronto last offseason. He's seeking a three-year term for his next deal, Sportsnet's Michael Grange reports.