Terry Rozier sounds ready to prove his value to the Miami Heat, which is technically great news. But it also has the chance to impede the development of more important players.
During an interview on Media Day, the 31-year-old did not shy away from the struggles he’s faced since coming over from Charlotte. More importantly, he vowed to be better, saying “I’m ready for the season.”
On the one hand, Rozier’s optimism is well-timed. The Heat must figure out how to navigate the first part of the season with Tyler Herro watching from the sidelines following left ankle surgery. His absence vaults Norman Powell to the top of the perimeter pecking order. After that, Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins in distant contention for second place.
And beyond that, the offensive hierarchy on the perimeter is fairly wide-open—not barren, but desperate for a second reliable ball-handler and shooter to emerge.
Peak Rozier fits that bill. It’s why the Heat gave up (way, way, way too much) to get him before the 2024 trade deadline. Yet, for Rozier to prove his disastrous time in Miami is little more than a fluke, it will invariably have to come at the expense of players who are more critical to the bigger picture.
The Heat’s rotation with a reinvigorated Terry Rozier is complicated
The Heat’s roster is already stacked with guards before even factoring in a Rozier bounce-back campaign. From Powell and Mitchell, to Pelle Larsson and Kasparas Jakucionis, to Dru Smith and Rozier himself, Miami is brimming with players who fall into the “guards who can’t really be wings” bucket.
Herro’s absence out of the gate will decongest some of the logjam. With the exception of Powell, nobody else needs to be guaranteed a darn thing. Head coach Erik Spoelstra is free to tinker as he sees fit. That experimentation could prove valuable once Herro is set to return, giving the Heat a better idea of who does and doesn’t belong inside the core rotation.
Miami is left with zero headaches if Rozier can’t resemble a version of the player who was averaging over 23 points while downing ultra-difficult threes when they traded for him. It becomes a different story if he provides glimpses into what initially attracted the team to him.
Larsson and Jakucionis will presumably be the first to feel the squeeze if Rozier returns closer to previous form. Mitchell’s defense is too important to a backcourt that, eventually, wants to heavily feature Herro and Powell. Larsson and Jakuciionis will have a tough time standing out unless they prove they’re capable of defending medium-to-high usage wings.
Miami’s approach to the Rozier situation will be telltale
In some ways, the Heat’s approach to Rozier will reveal the lens through which they’re viewing this entire season.
If they give him a higher-volume role, it infers a faith in the veterans, and thus a commitment to the immediate picture. If they are more inclined to test out Larsson, Jakucionis, or even Dru Smith, it suggests they’re committed to a gap year played out in service of the longer term.
Selecting one of these approaches will shape what comes next. A focus on this year exclusively increases the odds Miami takes a bigger swing on the midseason trade market. Emphasis on development, meanwhile, lays the groundwork for a quasi-selloff.
History suggests the Heat will cater to the shorter outlook. That bodes well for Rozier. Whether it’s what is best for the overall organization remains to be seen.