Lakers linked to Hornets guard who could potentially hit buyout market

As his NBA career nears the end, Kyle Lowry may be jumping the shark.

Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported in his mailbag this week that Lowry is a name to watch for the Los Angeles Lakers. Lowry would be a potential target for the Lakers should he be bought out by the Charlotte Hornets, who acquired him earlier this week as part of the Terry Rozier trade with the Miami Heat.

The 37-year-old Lowry, a six-time All-Star, is making $29.7 million this year. According to the CBA rules just implemented this season, that would make Lowry ineligible to sign with any team above the second luxury tax apron (those teams can only sign buyout-market guys making up to $12.4 million). As a team below that second apron, though, the Lakers may be a very real possibility for the veteran guard.

Lowry does not do much scoring-wise these days, averaging 8.2 points per game on 42.6% shooting from the field. But he can still run a second unit and serve as a candidate for crunch-time minutes with his calm hand at the controls and ability to always be in the right place defensively. That is veteran acumen that the Lakers, down a couple of players with injury right now, might really benefit from.