The Miami Heat have taken a swing in a bid to get back to the NBA Finals, trading Kyle Lowry and a 2027 protected first-round pick for Charlotte Hornets star Terry Rozier.
That is according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who broke the news of the trade in the early hours of Wednesday morning [AEDT].
Rozier is currently having one of his best seasons in the NBA, averaging 23.2 points and 6.6 assists — both of which are career-highs for the 29-year-old, who played four years with the Celtics before being dealt to the Hornets ahead of the 2019-20 season.
Rozier was traded to Charlotte as part of the sign-and-trade that saw Kemba Walker sent to Boston.
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Rozier won’t have the same burden on the offensive end at Miami, instead operating as more of a complementary creator and scoring option to ease the pressure on the likes of Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
Add in sharpshooter Duncan Robinson, who is shooting 41.1 per cent from deep and averaging a career-high 13.7 points, alongside impressive rookie Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Miami, despite sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference, could yet again push for another deep playoffs run.
Rozier will also offer much-needed experience for the playoff stretch, something Lowry would have offered but the veteran guard is on the decline and on an expiring $29.6 million contract, making him a valuable asset to move before the deadline.
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Lowry, a six-time All-Star and NBA champion, is unlikely to stay put either given he doesn’t offer the rebuilding Hornets much value right now or into the future.
Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Hornets will look to move Lowry before the deadline but otherwise he could become a buyout contract candidate.
Wojnarowski also reported the Hornets are weighing up deals on other veteran players on the team ahead of the deadline as they look to continue to build around LaMelo Ball and rookie Brandon Miller.
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“I want to thank Terry for all his efforts since coming to Charlotte,” Mitch Kupchak, general manager and president of basketball operations, said in a statement confirming the trade.
“On the court, he was a true professional and a great competitor who set a positive example for our young players. He also made himself a staple of the Charlotte community with his commitment to giving back. We wish him all the best in the future.
“The acquisition of a future first-round pick provides us an asset as we look to build long-term sustainable success around our young core of talented players. We believe adding this future pick and the additional financial flexibility from this trade will be beneficial as we continue to build our team moving forward.”