Terry Rozier could be on the move as Heat explore trade options
The Miami Heat are still looking to trade Terry Rozier this offseason, according to Heat insider Anthony Chiang. The team is open to moving the 31-year-old guard but isn’t willing to give up valuable draft picks to make it happen.
Rozier just wrapped up his 10th NBA season and second with Miami, appearing in 64 games and starting 23 of them.
What started as a full-time starting role quickly changed when head coach Erik Spoelstra moved Rozier to the bench partway through the season.
The Heat acquired Rozier at the 2022-23 trade deadline, sending Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick to Charlotte. Before joining Miami, Rozier had been a fixture in the Hornets’ lineup, starting all 298 games he played there over five seasons.
His time in Miami hasn’t gone as planned.
While Rozier averaged an impressive 23.2 points per game in Charlotte before the trade, his scoring dropped to 16.4 points with the Heat and fell even further to just 10.6 points this past season.
The Heat’s roster has undergone significant changes recently. They parted ways with star forward Jimmy Butler and lost key shooter Duncan Robinson to the Pistons in free agency.
Money is a major factor in Miami’s desire to move Rozier. He’s set to make $26.4 million next season – the fourth-highest salary on the team’s books. The Heat apparently don’t feel he’s worth that price tag given his declining production.
Miami already tried sending Rozier to Washington earlier this offseason in a deal for Marcus Smart. The trade fell apart when the Wizards asked for draft picks that the Heat weren’t willing to include. Smart was eventually bought out by Washington and signed with the Lakers.
Rozier has reportedly been linked to potential trades with the Kings, Wizards, and Bulls as Miami continues searching for a trade partner.
The Heat are currently over the luxury tax threshold, which adds extra urgency to their efforts to move Rozier’s substantial contract before the season begins.
