Adone arrangement. The Miami Heat have been in talks about a trade that would involve trading Kyle Lowry for Terry Rozier, the point guard for the Hornets, and now the deal is finalized.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN said as much this morning on Twitter and X: “Sources tell ESPN that the Charlotte Hornets are trading Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat for a 2027 first-round pick and Kyle Lowry.”
The move comes amid year-long rumors that the Heat are looking for more point guard depth and are prepared to give up point guard Kyle Lowry’s contract, which is set to expire, in order to close a deal.
The money factor is another. Going forward, the Heat are keen to preserve their financial flexibility because the NBA is implementing new luxury-tax regulations that will make it more challenging to acquire and trade players. The Heat passed up the opportunity to sign higher-paid players like Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal in the last year in favor of the more affordable Rozier, who is currently in the second year of a four-year, $96 million contract he signed in 2021.
Under pressure to maintain pace in the East, Miami Heat made a trade.
The Miami Heat, who are now tied with the Indiana Pacers for sixth place in the Eastern Conference at 24-19, made the move in the midst of a frustrating three-game losing streak. It also occurs at a time when the Knicks and Pacers, the Heat’s midrange East rivals, have both made significant changes recently.
On December 30, the Knicks acquired Toronto’s star center OG Anunoby through trade, and they have since gone 9-2. Pascal Siakam was acquired by the Pacers on January 18 as part of a trade with the Raptors. Siakam has only appeared in two games for his new team, both of which have been losses.
