Player movement in the NBA isn’t over when the trade deadline passes. After the trade deadline, the buyout market heats up as veterans on teams that aren’t contending will sometimes shake loose and hit free agency.
One of those veterans was point guard Kyle Lowry. He was traded by the Miami Heat to the Charlotte Hornets as part of their deal for Terry Rozier. Lowry never reported to the Hornets, as they eventually bought him out and he was free to pick his next team.
Before the buyout was even finalized, it was reported that Lowry would be returning home to play for the Philadelphia 76ers. Given the injuries they are dealing with, the 76ers are certainly happy to have the veteran in the fold, as he quickly moved into the starting lineup.
While it sounded like Lowry had his mind made up even before he was eligible to make a move, that didn’t stop other players from attempting to recruit him. One of those players was New York Knicks guard, Josh Hart.
According to James Herbert of CBS Sports, Hart tried to recruit Lowry to come to New York after the Hornets bought him out before he went to Philadephia. Once the recruitment was unsuccessful, Lowry quickly turned into a rival for Hart.
“Yeah, I texted his a--,” Hart said. “I told him, ‘Pull up.’ Told him, ‘F— with us.’ But obviously that didn’t happen, so f— him.”
For anyone who doesn’t know the antics of Hart, those comments were almost certainly made in jest. Hart speaks of his current teammate, Jalen Brunson, in a similar fashion, always cracking jokes and poking fun at one another.
Lowry and Hart have grown close over the years, as both attended Villanova to play collegiately. When Hart was a freshman, he met Lowry for the first time, who was back teaching a lesson over the summer after being in the NBA.
The Knicks certainly had a need in the backcourt at the time Lowry was hitting free agency as their depth was hit hard by injuries. Lowry would have solidified the team’s second unit behind Brunson, but things have turned out okay for both parties.
The Philadelphia native is happy to be back home, playing for the hometown 76ers. The Knicks have to be happy with how Miles McBride has looked as well, as he is flourishing in the backup point guard role.
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