Terry Rozier joins the Heat in a trade with the Hornets
In exchange, Miami sends seasoned guard Kyle Lowry to Charlotte and adds Terry Rozier to its backcourt.
The Miami Heat announced today that they have recruited guard Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets to bolster their backcourt. The Hornets are giving up veteran guard Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick to the Heat in exchange for Rozier.
Received heat:
Terry Rozier of the Hawks is awarded:
Kyle Lowry, first-round selection in 2027
In the event that it doesn’t convey, the lottery-protected 2027 pick would become an unprotected pick in 2028.
This means that Rozier, who is averaging a career-high 23.2 points per game along with 3.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.1 steals, joins Miami as a playmaking and scoring guard. This season, he is shooting 35.8% from 3-point range and 45.9% overall.
After signing a sign-and-trade agreement with the Heat in 2021, Lowry’s production has significantly decreased from his All-Star years with the Toronto Raptors. This season, he is shooting 42.6% overall and 38.5% from 3-point range, and he is averaging 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. Although he has started 35 of the 37 games in which he has appeared for Miami, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and other players have frequently taken over his playmaking responsibilities.
This season, Miami’s offensive has been lacking. It is ranked No. 16 in 3-pointers made (12.4 per game), No. 20 in offensive rating (113.4), No. 17 in true shooting percentage (58%), and No. 26 in points per game (110.9). The Heat finished very identically in a number of categories the previous season, and their lack of offensive firepower ultimately cost them in the NBA Finals, where the Denver Nuggets defeated Miami in five games.
Although Jacquez has established himself as a Heat regular starter, Rozier’s arrival ought to relieve him and Herro of some of their playmaking responsibilities. The Heat have been having bench problems lately, as NBA.com’s John Schuhmann pointed out; last week, they were outscored by 34 points in 60 minutes while Herro was on the court.
What’s next for Lowry: The Hornets intend to try to put together another trade with him before the deadline of February 8; however, they do not intend to buy him out of his contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
After starting all 35 of his games with the Heat this season, Lowry—a six-time All-Star and 2019 NBA champion with Toronto—was removed from the starting lineup last week, sparking rumors that his time in Miami was coming to an end.
While Rozier, 29, is making $23.2 million this season and has a two-year contract that expires, Lowry is on a $29.7 million contract.
The Hornets (10-31) are constructing for the future around their youthful core, which includes youngster Brandon Miller and standout guard LaMelo Ball. They now own the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference.
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