Bradley Beal will be a free agent in 2022 so while he and the Washington Wizards have wanted to remain together, a long-term decision is impending.

League sources tell Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer that Beal's decision to play through this season with Washington is as much a commitment to give things a try with Russell Westbrook at is about making a life-altering decision during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources add that the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans are among the teams with interest in pursuing Beal. One league source also states that the Toronto Raptors are a sleep team for Beal, which may have contributed to Masai Ujiri's reluctance to trade away Kyle Lowry since he believes they can contend again next season.

A number of other teams have also been linked to Beal by other media outlets, most notably the Golden State Warriors.

The Miami Heat were Kyle Lowry's preferred team if he was traded at the deadline, sources tell Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer. Lowry's close friendship with Jimmy Butler is cited as the driving force of that preference.

The Heat can realistically create approximately $26 million in cap space while keeping the cap holds of Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn. While it would be short of max cap space, it is the type of number Lowry is reportedly seeking in free agency.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers were the two other teams to pursue Lowry at the deadline and neither will have cap space. 

Beyond Miami, the only teams projected to have cap space are the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. Toronto is likely the only other threat to the Heat in their efforts to sign Lowry.

LaMarcus Aldridge is expected to meet with the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets, sources told Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports.

Aldridge and the Spurs agreed to a buyout on Thursday. 

The San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge have reached agreement on a contract buyout.

Shams Charania reported that Aldridge gave back $7.25 million with the buyout, while Adrian Wojnarowski countered that it was $5.8 million.

Aldridge is widely expected to sign with the Miami Heat once he clears waivers.

The Miami Heat are expected to be the frontrunner to sign LaMarcus Aldridge once he is bought out by the San Antonio Spurs.

Aldridge plans to talk with several teams, however, before he finalizes his decision. 

The Heat pursued Aldridge during his 2015 free agency when he instead signed with the Spurs.

The Miami Heat have agreed to acquire Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and a pick swap in 2022.

Oladipo has been linked to the Heat for months with him keeping an offseason home in Miami.

The Rockets acquired Oladipo in January as part of the James Harden trade.

The Toronto Raptors are seriously engaged with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat on a Kyle Lowry trade.

The Lakers are offering a deal built around Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dennis Schroder.

Miami is offering a package centered on Duncan Robinson.

The Raptors are holding out for either Talen Horton-Tucker to be included by the Lakers, or Tyler Herro from the Heat. Horton-Tucker will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

Lowry prefers a trade to the Heat currently after the Philadelphia 76ers moved on with their trade for George Hill.

The Miami Heat have agreed to acquire Nemaja Bjelica from the Sacramento Kings.

Bjelica is on an expiring contract and has been shopped by the Kings for weeks.

The Toronto Raptors have signaled that the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers are the two leading contenders to trade for Kyle Lowry with the Miami Heat in third, according to Brian Windhorst on ESPN's First Take.

The Heat still have a window to improve their offer to the Raptors for Lowry.

Windhorst added that Lowry is preparing to be traded to the 76ers.

The Lakers would need to send a combination of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Dennis Schroder and Wesley Matthews. The Lakers have had interest in signing Schroder to an extension and the Raptors are believed to have interest in pursuing him in free agency.

The Toronto Raptors are "seriously engaged" with the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers on a trade of Kyle Lowry.

The Heat and 76ers have been linked to Lowry for several weeks, while the Lakers emerged publicly this week.

Lowry is on an expiring contract with the Raptors and one general manager commented privately that he was essentially having his free agency this week.

"As of [Wednesday], the Raptors weren't thrilled with their offers for Kyle Lowry," said Brian Windhorst on First Take. "They're basically negotiating with only two teams, with Miami and Philadelphia. From what I can glean from people I've talked to, neither one of them are putting the premium, premium package they can offer for Kyle Lowry and that's frustrated the Raptors a little bit. 

"Part of the issue is that Kyle Lowry wants a contract extension, or at least a new contract after this season somewhere in the neighborhood of $25 million per year over two years. And that's an issue for Philadelphia and that could contribute to their hesitancy."

Windhorst expects Lowry to be traded to either the Heat or 76ers by the trade deadline.

"I frankly do not believe that is true," said Windhorst of rumors linking Lowry to the Lakers suggesting it is a smokescreen from Toronto to get the 76ers and Heat to improve the offers.