Heat, Bulls lose 2nd-rounders for Lowry, Lonzo sign-and-trade violations

The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls will each forfeit their next available second-round pick for violating free-agency timing rules with their respective acquisitions of Kyle Lowry and Lonzo Ball, the league announced Wednesday.

Lowry and Ball were both acquired via sign-and-trade deals this summer, which tend to require lengthy negotiations. However, both transactions appeared to be agreed upon within minutes of the free-agency window opening in August.

The punishment factored in that both teams "fully cooperated with the investigations," the league told teams in a memo, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

If the Heat make the playoffs this season, they will surrender the lesser of their incoming 2022 second-round pick from the Philadelphia 76ers or Denver Nuggets, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. If Miami fails to make the postseason, the next available second-rounder it can forfeit is in 2028.

The Bulls don't outright own a second-round pick until 2026, according to RealGM. They could potentially receive one from the Nuggets as soon as 2023, but that selection is protected for Nos. 31-46.

Miami penned Lowry to a three-year, $85-million contract in a move that sent Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic to the Toronto Raptors. Ball joined Chicago on a four-year, $85-million deal in a sign-and-trade that landed Garrett Temple and Tomas Satoransky on the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Heat issued a statement, disagreeing with the NBA's decision.

Chicago also issued a statement, noting that it "cooperated completely" with the inquiry, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.

"We are glad this process has concluded and look forward to the rest of our season," the Bulls said.

Neither the Raptors nor the Pelicans are facing discipline.