The Miami Heat have acquired Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round draft pick, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This first-round selection is subject to NBA draft lottery protection in 2027 but will become unprotected in 2028 if not previously conveyed.
Rozier, 29, has been performing exceptionally this season, achieving career-high averages of 23.2 points 6.6 assists per game, and 3.9 rebounds. He’s in his fifth season with the Hornets, having started his career with the Boston Celtics.
Rozier being traded to the Heat comes as no surprise. He preferred to be dealt to Miami — a development reported by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports last week.
“Terry Rozier’s strong play has made the combo guard a more viable trade candidate than ever at his $24 million average annual salary, with a known preference to join the Miami Heat, league sources told Yahoo Sports,” Fischer wrote.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Terry Rozier, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets Updates
On the other side, 37-year-old Lowry, a six-time All-Star, has been averaging 8.2 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game in his third season with the Heat.
The Hornets are not immediately considering a buyout for Lowry and are exploring the possibility of another trade before the February 8 deadline, as reported by Wojnarowski.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Terry Rozier, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Currently, the Heat holds the sixth position in the Eastern Conference with a 24-19 record, while the Hornets are at 10-31 for the season. Miami appeared in the NBA Finals last season, losing to the Nuggets. The goal is for Rozier to provide a boost to help the Heat get over the top in this year’s playoffs.
