Kyle Lowry Rumors: 'Everything Is in Place' for Heat, PG to Agree on Contract in FA

The Miami Heat aren't allowed to begin negotiating a deal with free-agent point guard Kyle Lowry until at least 6 p.m. ET Monday, but they're already shaping up as the favorite to sign him this offseason.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on The Jump that "everything is in place" for Lowry to agree to a contract with Miami, perhaps on the first day of the negotiating period.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported Tuesday that New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin "hopes to make a huge offer" to Lowry. New Orleans would sign the 35-year-old with the idea he'd help elevate a young roster much in the same way Chris Paul did with the Phoenix Suns.

Soon, Griffin may need to move on to Plan B.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Dallas Mavericks were similarly optimistic about a Lowry pursuit but have already "shifted [their] focus from Lowry to other free-agent targets."

For now, the Heat remain prohibited from reaching out to Lowry or the Toronto Raptors, but they can still get the gears in motion behind the scenes to expedite any negotiations.

Wojnarowski reported Sunday the franchise "has maneuvered to have two key elements of a possible sign-and-trade package—guard Goran Dragic and forward Precious Achiuwa—to offer the Raptors once talks can ensue."

A sign-and-trade with Toronto is necessary in order to give Lowry a market-level contract because Miami doesn't have the salary-cap space to sign him outright.

Especially after the Milwaukee Bucks' stunning reversal last offseason when they seemed to have a deal in place to acquire Bogdan Bogdanovic, the Heat will surely follow all of the necessary guidelines.

But the tenor of the reporting around Miami and Lowry make this feel like a fait accompli.