NBA Free Agency News: Heat, Rockets and Mavs Target Kyle Lowry; Raptors Will Offer Max Years

The Toronto Raptors are doing everything in their power to retain starting point guard Kyle Lowry. Waiting on the sidelines, the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks are looking to steal him away from the Canadian franchise.

Various reports from different sports media outlets are stating that Lowry is being wooed by a number of teams.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports is reporting that the Rockets are interested:

Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey has traveled to Philadelphia to meet with free agent guard Kyle Lowry tonight, league source tells Yahoo.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 1, 2014

Marc Stein of ESPN saying that the Raps are pressed to give the best offer:

Line of teams chasing Kyle Lowry so long that Raptors now said to be weighing whether to offer fifth year to Lowry to clinch his re-signing — Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 1, 2014

Chris Broussard also of ESPN also mentioning Miami and Dallas as the other suitors:

Source: Miami, Toronto, Houston and Dallas register interest in signing Kyle Lowry

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 1, 2014

Lowry averaged career-high numbers in his second and final year with the Raptors. The 28-year-old PG averaged career-best 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and7.4 assists in 79 games in the 2013-2014 NBA season.

Curiously, Lowry was acquired by the Raptors in a 2012 trade with the Rockets, a team which is interested in bringing him back to their fold in this offseason.

The Mavericks are short of a starting point guard and Lowry will easily fill that role. Dallas traded away erstwhile starting PG Jose Calderon to the New York Knicks in exchange for big man Tyson Chandler early in the 2014 offseason.

The Heat meanwhile have the trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh opt out of their respective contracts before free agency officially began on July 1. Pat Riley, team president and general manager of Miami, is pressed to add valuable free agents to convince one or three to stay in South Beach.

The Raptors have the inside track on re-signing Lowry since they can offer the longest deal among the suitors.