Is the Heat on for Terry Rozier in Miami? With trade interest cooling down, the team might be forced to make a significant financial decision. Will a buyout be the next big move for Pat Riley and the squad, or is there another play in store for the veteran guard?
The Miami Heat organization is reportedly exploring the significant option of buying out guard Terry Rozier’s contract if ongoing efforts to trade him prove unsuccessful, a move with considerable financial and roster implications for the upcoming NBA season.
Rozier, who is currently under federal investigation for a potential gambling probe, is set to earn $26.6 million in the final year of his existing contract. This substantial salary, coupled with the ongoing investigation, significantly complicates his trade market value, contributing to the Miami Heat’s complex offseason.
Despite Miami’s clear desire to move on from the veteran guard, NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reports a notable lack of trade interest for the 31-year-old. This scarcity of potential trade partners is pushing the Heat towards considering alternative strategies, such as an NBA buyout, generating significant basketball news.
Last season, Terry Rozier participated in 64 games for the Heat, contributing averages of 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. His shooting percentages—39.1% from the field and 29.5% from beyond the arc—indicate a performance that perhaps didn’t fully justify his substantial salary in the Heat’s system.
The Miami Heat initially acquired Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets during the 2023-24 season, hoping he would bolster their backcourt. His career has also seen stops with the Boston Celtics and Hornets, where he established career averages of 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
Miami’s front office, under president Pat Riley, has been notably active this offseason, signaling a clear intent to reshape the roster. Riley has already orchestrated several key moves, demonstrating a proactive approach to team building following their early playoff exit against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Looking ahead, head coach Erik Spoelstra is likely strategizing around a projected starting lineup that excludes Rozier, emphasizing a shift in team composition. The Eastern Conference landscape appears wide open, with significant injuries to key players on rival teams like the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics potentially creating new opportunities for a reconfigured Heat squad.
A potential NBA buyout of Terry Rozier would not only free up valuable salary cap space for the Miami Heat but also allow the team to strategically pursue other veteran players or young talent to fill critical roster gaps as they aim for deeper playoff contention in the upcoming season, further fueling NBA trade rumors.
