NBA Championship Odds: Miami Heat Move into Top 10 After Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson Signings
By Peter Dewey
Kyle Lowry is taking his talents to South Beach, and the Miami Heat have surged in WynnBET’s NBA Finals odds because of it.
The Heat, who fell to +3000 to win the title ahead of free agency, have jumped into the top 10 on the odds list at +2200 after making a flurry of moves at the opening of free agency on Monday.
Miami reportedly will complete a sign-and-trade deal to acquire Lowry from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa. In addition, the Heat brought back restricted free agent sharpshooter Duncan Robinson on a five-year, $90 million deal.
Three-year deal in a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry, source tells ESPN. https://t.co/BkmFIjAwQp
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2021
Duncan Robinson – host of the @TheLongshotPod – has agreed to a 5-year, $90M contract to stay with the Miami Heat, his agent Jason Glushon of @GlushonSM tells ESPN. The deal, largest ever for an undrafted player, also includes an ETO after the fourth year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2021
While those were the two big moves for the Heat on Monday, they also agreed to a max extension with All-Star Jimmy Butler and brought in forward P.J. Tucker on a two-year, $15 million deal with the second year being a player option.
Butler’s max contract is expected to be in the four years and in excess of $184 million, per cap experts. ? https://t.co/pCghWjYVJW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 2, 2021
Tucker's deal includes a player option in Year 2, sources said. https://t.co/iZvPbhPyW9
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 3, 2021
Pat Riley is trying to make sure that Miami doesn’t get swept in the first round of the playoffs for back-to-back seasons, and oddsmakers are showing some belief in the Heat. Remember, Miami made the NBA Finals during the 2019-20 season but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lowry, 35, provides the Heat with a steady presence at point guard going forward. Dragic, who dealt with injury issues last season, simply isn’t the player Lowry is, and Miami wanted more stability after two seasons of Kendrick Nunn playing as the team’s primary starter at the point in the regular season.
Even though Toronto struggled last season, Lowry had a great year. He averaged 17.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from beyond the arc.
The Heat may not have the star power that the Brooklyn Nets (+225 to win the title) possess, but they are equipped to fight for a top spot in the East after finishing with the No. 6 seed last season.
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