Terry Rozier had a bad season — a very bad season, one of the worst of his career.
While the Miami Heat used up their final roster spot on Tuesday to acquire fourth-year guard Simone Fontecchio in the Duncan Robinson sign-and-trade, they are not planning on waiving-and-stretching Terry Rozier to free up a roster spot, Heat insider Barry Jackson reported Wednesday.
“By waiving-and-stretching Rozier, his $26.6 million salary next season (the final year of his contract) would be spread over several years,” Jackson wrote. “Miami instead will either trade Rozier (if it finds a deal it likes) or keep him next season.”
Rozier, 31, averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game on 39.1 percent shooting and a dismal 29.5 percent from 3-point range.
He will be entering the final year of his contract at $26.6 million, but only $24.9 million is guaranteed. As a result, assuming the Heat did waive-and-stretch Rozier, Miami would be on the hook for $8.3 million each of the next three seasons.
In today’s two-apron era, that’s not worth it. They made the mistake once by stretching Ryan Anderson’s contract in 2019 in order to complete the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade, which limited its flexibility in future seasons. The same mistake can’t be made today in the two-apron era, where every dollar matters–especially if the Heat need flexibility in ensuing offseason for exceptions, tax reasons or the hard-cap.
The Milwaukee Bucks stretched Damian Lillard’s $113 million over the next two seasons in order to sign Myles Turner, which will put the Bucks on the hook for $22.5 million over the next five years. Obviously, in Rozier’s case, the cap figure will be much lower for fewer seasons, but is it worth it for a team who won’t be contending anyway? I don’t think so.
Miami has nearly $185 million allocated to 15 players, $5.5 million below the luxury tax, $11.1 million below the first apron and $23 million below the second apron, where it’s hard-capped. Rozier’s expiring salary can still help the Heat create flexibility if they can find a taker, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of future draft capital or any other asset of value.
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
- NBA CUP GAMETHREAD: Charlotte Hornets (3-5) @ Miami HEAT (4-4)
- Why Dru Smith’s start to season should not go unnoticed
- Why Ja Morant would not be a current fit with Heat
- GAME PREVIEW: Heat return home to host Hornets in first NBA Cup game
- Erik Spoelstra to coach in Friday’s game after house is destroyed in devastating house fire
- Heat having no backup plan with big man depth is clear front office blunder
- Erik Spoelstra’s Miami-Dade home gets damaged in massive fire
No, they should trade him, if not now, during the season. As all other vets, which are not part of the future. Still, we need a backup center and a shooter. (Burks).
Before they do anything, I would like to give him a chance to redeem himself. If his mojo is back, then he would be the player we thought we traded for. He could be useful coming off the bench, if nothing else.
If he doesn’t have his mojo then trade him before the deadline for a second rounder or two, waive and buy him out or just wait for the contract to expire.
I wouldnt. He had his chances last year.
I give him a shot too. He had real issues hanging over his head that definitely could have impacted his play. The thing to consider is that he was once a pretty good player
The roster is currently full. Plus, if they had the money and roster spot, I would like Amir Coffey over Burks. He’s a few years younger and I feel like he does a little more than Burks, but probably a notch below as a shooter, but still around 40%.
In another roster is full but spit balling as if we would or could comment, Mo Wagner as backup center/forward.
Unless they somehow make a 2 for 1 trade, as of now, not happening. 🙁
I’ve started leaning more towards waiting for the season to start. Terry’s trade value is rock-bottom right now, and unless some team just *really* wants him for some reason, we’re going to get scraps in return if we trade him in the summer. Give him a shot at raising his trade value, and maybe redeeming himself. But unless he turns into the second coming of T-Mac, get him off the roster by the end of December.
stretch apron.2nd apron.ufa rfa.bballs too complicated.welcome to 2025.what happened to cutting players.free agency .trades.how bout terry for beasley
lol, so you want to trade someone who was not guilty for someone being investigated?
didnt know terry was exonerated,im betting he has a bounce back year
Hope so. I think so.
Me too. If he comes into camp with a big shit eatin grin on his face, then you’ll know.
shot dont lie.hope it was cause of gambling accusations
Can someone do a wellness check on Pat Riley? Are we sure he’s still alive?
the only owner who wouldnt have fired him is his best friend.every other owner hes fired.i think on hhh everybody wants him gone.put sunman in charge of gm.and rc in charge of aprons.yours truly will be the team chaplain bringing good vibes.
Good one, especially the last part.
u agree with first sentence i know u agree with last
From what I’ve read, the personnel decisions are made by committee, no longer by Riley alone. Probably has been that way for a while. I may have wanted a lot more this offseason, but I am not a Riley hater. I suspect I’m in the minority on that issue.
Hate is a strong word. Maybe frustrated and ready for change… new younger blood. Just like politicians. They should have an expiration (must retire by) date.
scouts report to pat give feedback to pat.pat signs deal.blame or praise on pat.for 30 years all praise.last few blame
Someone has to be accountable. Maybe by next year, three years after success, he won’t get a pass anymore. Give him one more year to right the ship, even though it seems like we said the same thing last year. But, you can’t rest on your laurels forever. BTW, I’m no hater either, just a concerned Heat fan.
Bring plenty of holy water. Some folks around here (I ain’t mentioning no names) could use it…regularly.
It would be foolish to waive Rozier or trade him unless it is a fair trade. If he comes back breathing fire like last season never happened, he’ll have a few teams interested in trading for him. Who knows, maybe Sacto will want to trade DeRozan for him straight up. I would give Rozier until at least the end of the year to prove he’s got his mojo back before deciding what to do. Worse case scenario, let the contract expire.
No s**t.
Thanks a lot, Bucks. Now that they did that to Dame, we have a few similar stories across the league. I heard the same s**t about Beal and the Suns.
marlins got robbed tonight bj2qb
How about cabby and Norby the other day though
Ump had money on Marlins losing 😉
Not waiving/stretching him is the right thing to do. He should be very motivated to prove last season was a fluke. And if that doesn’t happen, he is on an expiring contract.
Yup. I want to know if last year’s performance was an outlier or the new normal for “Scary Terry,”
whats going on with his legal issues.?
Where have you been? He was exonerated. So all of your inferences that he was guilty turned out to not be true.
ok thanks rc didnt see that good maybe with that behind him he can find his bost char game
Definitely hope so. He certainly can’t get worse, so the only direction is up.
his missed shots were so off looked like he was missing on purpose rc.didnt that seem to u also
I think his head was just screwed on wrong. I just didn’t believe he was the type of player not to give his best. Let’s see how this upcoming season starts out. We should have a good idea in the first month.
That’s right. He was obviously preoccupied with something other than basketball. It wasn’t intentional like the “Quitter” was. “Judge not lest ye be judged.”