SUMMARY
- The Heat recently finalized a deal with the Hornets for Terry Rozier.
- Miami has sent Kyle Lowry along with a 2027 first-round pick to Charlotte.
It seems like the Miami Heat have finally decided to revamp a major part of their roster. In 2021, they acquired Kyle Lowry from the Toronto Raptors in a sign-and-trade scenario. Over the last couple of seasons, the veteran guard has been a positive force within the locker room. However, his stats have been ineffective as the Heat are trying to win a championship.
Miami hasn’t been the biggest team on the trade market this season. After news broke out that they were finalizing a deal with the Charlotte Hornets, it came as quite a surprise to everyone. The Heat have finalized a deal to acquire Terry Rozier. Fans believe that this is an exceptional move done by Pat Riley. One fan said, “Damn this is actually an insanely good move for Miami.” Another fan said, “That will be a huge addition for Miami.”
That will be a huge addition for Miami
— Scott Jacobsen (@statsobsession) January 23, 2024
Damn this is actually an insanely good move for Miami
— Ray 🦇 (@ifihad222choose) January 23, 2024
The Hornets have received Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick in exchange for their former point guard. Rozier is currently on a four-year $96.2 million deal that he signed back in 2021. He has two more seasons left in the extension he signed while he was retained by the Hornets. Rozier will become a free agent in 2026.
Is Terry Rozier an upgrade for the Miami Heat?
It is safe to say that Terry Rozier is a big upgrade from Kyle Lowry, who has been with the team since 2021. Since acquiring Lowry, the Miami Heat have made deep playoff runs. Their latest run resulted in an NBA Finals appearance against the Denver Nuggets. Lowry averaged 10.8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game with one steal.
Lowry hasn’t been the same since he left the Raptors. During his time up north, the veteran guard averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game. With the Heat he has only averaged 10.3 points with less than five rebounds and assists per game. The Heat has been a championship-caliber team, however, they have to progress rather than regress.
Acquiring Rozier was a step in the right direction as he has been averaging an impressive 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. The Heat have received another 20 points per game scorer in addition to Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Bam Adebayo. Now, Erik Spoelstra will have the chance to diversify his schemes on the court.
Miami is currently ranked sixth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 24 wins and 19 losses. Rozier could help them remain out of the Play-In Tournament berths. Miami has endured a couple of losses recently which Rozier should help them recover from.