It didn't take the Miami Heat long to make a splash this offseason.
On the opening day of free agency, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry had agreed to a three-year deal with the Miami Heat. It turned out to be a sign-and-trade, with the Heat receiving Lowry from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa.
How big of an acquisition is it? Lowry joining the Heat was voted as the best move of the offseason by a panel of 10 NBA scouts and executives that was conducted by ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
"I don't love the money, but I just love the fit," a Western Conference executive told Bontemps. "He fits the Heat culture, and I just think he's the piece they were missing — plus they kept him away from everyone else who wanted him."
"[Lowry is] a proven playoff performer," an Eastern Conference scout said. "He has a winning mentality, toughness, will fit like a glove."
New ESPN story: Who is the NBA’s best player? What were the best and worst moves of the offseason? Who is going to win the title next season? We posed those questions, and more, to scouts and executives around the league as the offseason winds down: https://t.co/gCxNqcs8NR
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) August 19, 2021
Following a run to the NBA Finals in 2020, the Heat finished the 2020-21 season with a 40-32 record, earning them the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. They faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs and lost in four games.
I had Lowry as the third-best player in this year's free agent class, trailing only Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul. He'll join forces with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in Miami, as well as Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris, to form one of the most talented teams in the Eastern Conference.
MORE: Lowry can get the Heat back to their championship-contending ways
The Orlando Magic selecting Jalen Suggs with the No. 5 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft received the second-most votes (3) in ESPN's poll for best offseason move, while the Washington Wizards trading Russell Westbrook, the Chicago Bulls' offseason and Patty Mills to the Brooklyn Nets finished in third place with one vote each.
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