The Miami Heat have acquired
guard Terry Rozier in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets in
exchange for guard Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick, as
reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Rozier, 29, is averaging a
career-best 23.2 points this season along with 6.6 assists and 3.9
rebounds through 30 games this season. So far, the 37-year-old
Lowry, a 2019 NBA champion, has put up 8.2 points, 4 assists and
3.5 rebounds per game through 37 games.
The move gives Miami (24-19,
sixth in the East) a significant upgrade at the point-guard
position with a player in his prime in Rozier. Lowry was moved to
the bench for the past two games in favor of Caleb Martin as his
age has caught up to him and led to a decline in his quality of
play.
According to Wojnarowski, the
2027 first-round pick is lottery-protected in 2027 and becomes
unprotected if it conveys through 2028.
The Hornets, under new ownership
(Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin) in the post-Michael Jordan era, are
starting to make moves and embrace a full rebuild around young star
LaMelo Ball and 2023 first-round selection Brandon
Miller.
With Charlotte planning to
continue accumulating future assets, notable veterans Gordon
Hayward, Miles Bridges and PJ Washington are names to monitor as
the NBA’s Feb. 8 trade deadline approaches.
