NBA Rumors: Kyle Lowry Not Being Shopped by Heat Ahead Of Trade Deadline

The Miami Heat are reportedly not actively attempting to trade Kyle Lowry ahead of next month's deadline.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported the Heat's recent strong stretch of play has all but eliminated the chance of the front office breaking apart the roster.

Lowry trade rumors have persisted in recent months, but a deal was always a longshot. The six-time All-Star's contract, which pays him $28.3 million this season and $29.7 million next, was always going to be a nonstarter for most teams given his diminished play.

Lowry is averaging 12.9 points, 5.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds while shooting just 40.1 percent from the floor and 33.6 percent from three-point range. He's looked very much like a player on the downslope of his career as he approaches his 37th birthday, and paying out nearly $30 million next year to a role player isn't an idea that's going to have teams lining up.

The Heat's point differential improves by 2.3 points per 100 possessions when Lowry is on the bench this season. While there is little doubt Lowry can be beneficial in the right role, he's been intermittently out of the lineup and ineffective when playing for nearly a month. He's averaged 6.6 points and 3.7 assists on 34.0 percent shooting over his past seven games and missed four games over that timeframe because of injury.

If the Heat were to buy Lowry out, he would have teams flocking in an attempt to add him on the minimum. That's not happening. The Heat aren't eating all that salary for a player who could have something left in the tank.

So, when combining the idea of Lowry's poor play, plus his salary and the need to send out matching salaries back in any trade, it's borderline impossible to see him getting moved this season.