In a move that had been predicted weeks ago, the Miami Heat officially waived Terry Rozier on Friday. It's not surprising or unexpected, and probably should've been done sooner, but this move will effectively close the book on one of the most disappointing trades in team history.
Even though Rozier hasn't been with the team all season, the Heat made this decision with the hopes of adding another player to their postseason roster before the end of the season. The expectation is that they will, even though their playoff outlook doesn't look great.
Nevertheless, it's official: The Rozier era in Miami is finally over.
One of the worst trades in Heat history
Even the legal issues aside, the trade for Rozier was already shaping up to be one of the worst moves in Heat history. His suspension this season just cemented it.
From the very beginning, the cost was quite polarizing in itself. Miami had to give up a first-round pick in addition to attaching Kyle Lowry's expiring contract to get a deal done for Rozier. Even before Rozier ever played a minute for the Heat, there were concerns that the team was giving up too much for a player who was past the peak of his career.
And over the course of his time with the team, that was proven right.
Rozier had a few bright moments, but he was never the consistent lead guard that the Heat was hoping he could be. During the 2024-25 season specifically, Rozier had one of the least efficient offensive seasons of his career, and ultimately fell out of Erik Spoelstra's rotation by season's end.
Before the legal issues even arrived, Rozier was trending in the wrong direction with his hot-and-cold on-court play.
Heat's failed Rozier trade signaled the end of the Jimmy Butler build
Perhaps the biggest reason why the Rozier trade will be remembered as one of the worst moves for the Heat is the fact that it will likely be marked as the end of the Jimmy Butler build.
In many ways, the front office's trade for Rozier was their last-ditch effort to try to keep the team competitive around Jimmy. It didn't end, and less than a season later, Jimmy was traded.
That's not to say that the trade of Rozier is to blame for Jimmy demanding a trade, but it's hard to envision how it could have helped.
All in all, the Rozier trade is going to be remembered as one of the biggest dark clouds in Heat history. And they're still seeing the ill effects of it today.
However, if it's any consolation, now that the Heat have waived Rozier, it's officially behind them.