Once more, Kyle Lowry is in motion.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the veteran player for the Charlotte Hornets reached a buyout agreement with the franchise on Saturday and will now play for the Philadelphia 76ers for the balance of the 2023–24 season for $2.8 million.
Philadelphia native Lowry, who attended Villanova for his collegiate career, “long hoped to return to Philadelphia to join the Sixers,” Wojnarowski continued.
The change doesn’t come as a huge shock. After the Miami Heat sold the veteran point guard to the Hornets in late January for Terry Rozier, along with a 2027 lottery-protected first-round choice, it seemed clear that Charlotte would just be his temporary home.
Lowry and Charlotte aren’t on the same schedule; aside from Lowry’s potential to be a mentor, the Hornets are rebuilding around LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, so they didn’t really need a senior point guard.
However, Lowry, who is 37 years old, is nearing the end of his career, so the opportunity to compete for a championship with a rival team has always made more sense for him.
It’s unclear how much more excellent basketball he has left in him, though. As a sign that his time in Miami was running out, he was finally benched after starting the first 35 games of the season for the Heat. He shot 42.6 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three to average just 8.2 points and 4.0 assists a game overall for the Heat.
During his peak, Lowry was a six-time All-Star, a reliable facilitator and player-spacer who offered unwavering defense. Although he is no longer that player, a rival team might take a chance on him to go back in time and maybe make one more championship run.
Tyrese Maxey and the veteran are anticipated to form a tandem in Philly’s backcourt. It’s not exactly a game-changing decision, and Joel Embiid’s playing status for the remainder of the season is still in doubt due to his knee ailment.
However, Lowry adds championship experience, a wealth of knowledge from their time together in Toronto with head coach Nick Nurse, and strong depth to Philly’s bench. He’s a good addition to the Sixers in that sense.