After struggling to fit with the Miami Heat’s core starters, Terry Rozier was recently moved to the bench. According to an NBA insider, the Heat could take it one step further by trading Rozier before February’s deadline.
As HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports, NBA executives have identified Rozier and Miami’s future first-round draft picks as the franchise’s top trade assets.
Rozier, 30, is owed $24.9 million this season and $26.6 million next season. Next season’s salary is guaranteed for all but $1.7 million.
"“Aside from Butler, the top Heat trade candidates are Miami’s future first-round draft picks and Terry Rozier, according to NBA executives who’ve spoken with HoopsHype. The 30-year-old guard was recently moved to the bench as his scoring production is the lowest in eight years.”"Michael Scotto, HoopsHype
The Heat acquired Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets in January, trading Kyle Lowry and a future first-round pick. Upon joining Miami, there were immediate questions about how well he would fit alongside Tyler Herro in the backcourt. Then Rozier's first season with the team was cut short due to a neck injury.
Now, Rozier is averaging the fewest points (13) and lowest field-goal percentage (40.4%) in seven seasons. Rozier has come off the bench in his last four games after being replaced in the starting lineup by Duncan Robinson.
The Heat could double-down on a mistake by trading Terry Rozier.
Should the Heat seek to trade Rozier, they could look to acquire a guard who is a better fit alongside Herro, or help in the front court.
As Scotto also pointed out, the Heat have been mentioned as a team that has kept tabs on Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma.
The Wizards nearly traded Kuzma to the Dallas Mavericks last season but decided against it at the last minute. According to Scotto, the Wizards are open to trading Kuzma this season but would likely seek at least one future first-round pick in return.
Considering what the Heat gave up for Rozier, adding more draft capital to move off his contract would appear to be a failure by the front office. In the above scenario, the Heat would theoretically have traded two first-round picks in 12 months to acquire Kuzma. Kuzma is a fine player who helped the Los Angeles Lakers win the 2020 championship, but he’s been more of a volume scorer with the Wizards who has failed to impact winning.
Finding a deal for a better player worth the price is more difficult. There simply aren’t many teams looking for an inefficient scoring guard with another year left on his contract. That won’t stop the Heat from looking, but finding a good deal could be difficult.