There’s no two ways about it: The Miami Heat’s acquisition of Terry Rozier has been a bust. But they can’t make the same mistake twice just to get out of the Rozier business.
The Heat traded Kyle Lowry’s expiring contract and a first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Rozier last January. Since then, Rozier had his first season derailed by a neck injury, was removed from the starting lineup and posted some of the worst numbers of his career.
Rozier has one more year left on his contract. It’s guaranteed for $24.9 million of the $26.6 million total value, so waiving him outright doesn’t make sense.
The Heat might be stuck with Rozier for another year.
Some have suggested that the Heat should do whatever they can to rid themselves of Rozier’s contract, including pairing him with an asset sweetener to convince a team to take his remaining salary. That would be a mistake.
The Heat can’t give away assets to free themselves of a contract that will be off the books next June. They only have three tradeable first-round picks. It would take at least one to convince any team to take on Rozier’s contract. Those picks are earmarked for use in a star trade.
The Heat felt similar pressure in Lowry’s final season. His decline had become a problem and the Heat desperately needed an upgrade at that position. So they shipped Lowry’s expiring salary and a 2027 first-round pick to Charlotte for Rozier, who was averaging 23 points per game for the Hornets prior to the trade.
It was viewed as a minor upgrade even then, but a necessary one as the Heat struggled in the season following their 2023 Finals run.
But that proved to be a mistake. Not only because Rozier failed to help the roster, but also because the Heat ended up losing a first-round pick and getting saddled with another big contract in the process.
Going into this offseason, the Heat have plenty of high-end role players and All-Stars. What they don’t have is the No. 1 scoring option to make it all come together.
Maybe the Heat can use Rozier’s expiring salary to help facilitate a trade for a star. If not, that’s OK. The Heat would be better off going into next season with Rozier still on the roster than using valuable assets to get rid of a contract that will come off the books this time next year.