Terry Rozier, a guard for the Charlotte Hornets, is a desirable trade target for many teams because he is enjoying a career year on a poor team.
But he’s primarily interested in playing for one team, an NBA insider claims: the Miami Heat.
“Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports reported on January 17 that Terry Rozier, a combo guard with a known preference to join the Miami Heat, is a more viable trade candidate than ever due to his strong play,” the report also stated:
With the backing of the new ownership, the Hornets have signaled that they will be more involved this deadline than they have been in past transaction windows. All players available save for LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams are reportedly in Charlotte.
With a 9–31 record, the Hornets are in 13th place in the Eastern Conference. It is certainly possible to trade a player like Rozier, but Charlotte would probably prefer not to take on a salary as high as Rozier’s in exchange.
In August of 2021, Rozier—who will turn thirty in March—signed a four-year contract extension valued at over $96 million. This season, his cap hits are $23.2 million; in 2024–2025, they are $25 million; and in 2025–2026, they are $26.7 million. The Heat may afford it, but Miami
Maybe Miami’s best option is to add a third team that is prepared to take on that salary. Sending a player on a short-term contract along with a few young players and/or future draft picks is one option; Kyle Lowry is one example. Although Lowry is expected to make a sizable salary this season—$29.7 million, according to Spotrac—he will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the regular season.
Duncan Robinson and Nikola Jovic are two players the Heat could trade for, but they would need to be combined with one or more future picks (2028 and/or 2030 first-round picks would probably be involved).
Moving Lowry is complicated by his underwhelming performance this season. In 28.1 minutes, the veteran point guard is dishing out 8.4 points, his lowest scoring average since the 2008–2009 campaign, along with 4.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds. Given his stat line, not many teams will be interested in signing him.
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