Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier has been one of the most disappointing players on the team to begin this season. After beginning the 2024-25 season in the starting lineup, he was recently relegated to the bench, where he’s been better, but still far from where he concluded last season before his season-ending neck injury.
In a recent article published by HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Rozier–along with picks (and Jimmy Butler)–was pointed as possibly one of the most attractive trade pieces the Heat have two months out from the trade deadline.
“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,” Scotto wrote Monday. “The 30-year-old guard was recently moved to the bench as his scoring production is the lowest in eight years. Rozier is owed $24.92 million this season and is guaranteed $24.92 million next season, with another $1.72 million non-guaranteed. Rozier’s remaining salary becomes fully guaranteed if his team participates in the conference semifinals and he plays in at least 70 regular season games.”
Through 16 games, Rozier is averaging 13.0 points on 40.4 percent shooting, including 36.8 percent from 3-point range and 87.9 percent from the free-throw line. He’s also tallying 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 30.0 minutes per game.
Since moving to the bench, he’s still been in a closing role, playing the entire fourth in four of his last six games (plus one other time he played 11:55). So he’s not completely out of the rotation in the game’s most important minutes–for better or worse.
It will be difficult for the Heat to trade him at his lowest value, especially with one more year attached to his contract with a 95 percent partial guarantee. It doesn’t help he’s a small guard who’s inefficient, but all it would theoretically take is for one team to convince themselves. However, it would also be curious to see if the Heat admits failure only one year after trading a first-round pick to acquire Rozier from Charlotte. We’re not privy to those conversations, but it doesn’t seem likely they wouldn’t trade him just to trade him.
Do you think Rozier is the Heat’s top trade asset? Let us know in the comments!
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I think there is not a huge problem with Rosier as a player, its more he doesn’t fit with teams philosophy. This year team is (at least try to be) fast, moving the ball, shooting 3p, go to the rim.
Its seems Rosiers game is dribbling, midrange, slow pace… He is also short, and just an average defender. So I think he doesnt really fit in this team.