On Tuesday, the Miami Heat announced that they have acquired guard Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets. In exchange for Rozier, the Hornets will receive veteran guard Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick, which is lottery protected and would convert to an unprotected pick in 2028 if it doesn’t convey.
Rozier, who is having a career-best season, averaging 23.2 points per game along with 3.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, will provide the Heat with much-needed playmaking and scoring abilities. He is shooting 45.9% overall and 35.8% on 3-pointers this season.
On the other hand, Lowry, who joined the Heat via a sign-and-trade deal in 2021, is averaging 8.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 4.0 apg this season while shooting 42.6% overall and 38.5% on 3-pointers. While he has started 35 of the 37 games he has played for Miami, his playmaking duties have often shifted to Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and others.
Miami has struggled offensively this season, ranking No. 26 in points per game (110.9), No. 16 in 3-pointers made (12.4 per game), No. 20 in offensive rating (113.4), and No. 17 in true shooting percentage (58%). The addition of Rozier should free up Jaquez and Herro from some of their playmaking duties, which could help the Heat overcome their bench issues of late.
As for Lowry, the Hornets don’t plan to buy him out from his deal but may see if they can piece together another trade with him before the Feb. 8 deadline. Lowry, a six-time All-Star and 2019 NBA champion with Toronto, had started in each of his first 35 appearances with the Heat this season, then was taken out of the starting five last week, and it didn’t take long for speculation to begin that his time with Miami was running short.
With a 10-31 record, the Hornets are building towards the future around their young core led by star guard LaMelo Ball and rookie Brandon Miller. In contrast, the Heat are looking to improve their playoff chances, and the addition of Rozier could help them achieve that goal.
