NBA Rumors: Kyle Lowry Was 'Fatigued' by Jimmy Butler's On-Court Tendencies with Heat

Kyle Lowry spent two and a half seasons playing alongside Jimmy Butler on the Miami Heat, and the two players seemingly had a good relationship.

But according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Lowry slowly grew frustrated by Butler, specifically with his stubbornness on the court.

"Sources say even Lowry, who remains as close away from the court as anyone to Butler, gradually grew fatigued by his teammate's headstrong tendencies on the floor," Fischer wrote. "Currently in his second season with his hometown Philadelphia 76ers, Lowry declined to comment last week when an interview was requested."

While Butler is likely on his way out of Miami after the veteran requested a trade earlier this month, a reunion between him and Lowry in Philadelphia seems unlikely. For the 76ers to land Butler, they would probably have to involve Paul George in a trade, which would be surprising considering they just gave him a four-year, $211.58 million deal.

Though George was Philadelphia's biggest offseason move last summer, the 76ers "tried to engage Miami" on a deal for Butler, per Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill, but nothing came out of the pursuit.

Had the 76ers landed Butler over the summer, it would have been his second stint in Philadelphia. The 35-year-old spent a little under one full season with the Sixers in 2018-19. Philadelphia had a solid 51-31 season that year but ultimately lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals to the eventual champion Toronto Raptors.

Since then, the 76ers haven't made it past the semifinals while Butler has been to a pair of NBA Finals with the Heat, both ending in losses.

Butler, likely in the final stages of his career, is hoping to be on a championship-contending team by the trade deadline. The frontrunner to land him right now seems to be the Phoenix Suns, who reportedly "want him bad," per NBA insider Marc Stein.

Whether the Suns will be able to give Miami the deal it is seeking for its disgruntled star is to be determined.