4 Players the Heat should have on their radar after Dec. 15

4. Dennis Schroder, PG, Toronto Raptors

Of all the point guards mentioned here, Dennis Schroder marks the biggest upgrade. He’s been good in his first season in Toronto, averaging 15.3 points and 7 assists in 23 starts. 

Schroder is in the first year of a two-year, $25.4 million contract he signed last summer. At 30, he’s seven years younger than Lowry. While the Raptors are expected to be aggressive before the February trade deadline, it’s unclear if they are willing to move Schroder.

Lowry has said he plans to retire a member of the Raptors. If the Raptors are interested in bringing him back soon and create some salary-cap relief for next summer as they rebuild around Scottie Barnes, they could swap Schroder plus another salary (Chris Boucher, Gary Trent Jr., Thaddeus Young, Otto Porter Jr.) for Lowry’s expiring $29.6 million contract.

Schroder is a better scorer than Lowry at this stage and is under contract for another year, which would give the Heat an answer at point guard next season. It might be radical given that Lowry is appreciated by Miami’s star player and coach, but it could also be a way to maximize Lowry’s value before he walks away in free agency anyway.