There have been plenty of questionable trades in the NBA, but the Miami Heat’s acquisition of Terry Rozier could be one for the record books. It’s not every day you see a top-eight draft pick exchanged for a player who, well, might have actively worked against the team and got arrested not long after.
Let’s unpack how this unfolded.
In January 2024, Rozier was having a standout season with the Charlotte Hornets. Sure, the team wasn’t great, but he was shining as a key player, averaging more than 23 points a game while dealing with Lamelo Ball’s injury woes. On January 14, the Hornets faced off against the Heat and, despite the loss, Rozier performed well, scoring 26 points along with 7 assists and 5 rebounds. This game seemed to convince Miami that he could be what they needed to make a playoff push.
Then, on January 23, not even two weeks after the game, the Heat decided to shake things up by releasing Kyle Lowry and sending a future first-round pick (protected for the lottery in 2027 and unprotected in 2028) to Charlotte.
At the time, it looked like a decent trade for both sides. Miami needed someone who could score over 20 points, fitting in alongside Butler, Adebayo, and Herro, while the Hornets gained Lowry and added more draft assets as they entered a rebuilding phase.
However, Rozier didn’t live up to expectations in Miami. His role as a fourth option instead of a primary scorer led to a noticeable dip in production and efficiency. His shooting percentage dropped, and his assists did too, which was odd given he was surrounded by a stronger offensive lineup. Curiously, his turnovers remained the same despite less playing time and a smaller role.
It became clear that Rozier wasn’t the solution—the Heat got knocked out by the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, and he was sidelined for the entire series due to injury.
Fast forward to the following season, and things didn’t improve for Rozier. His field goal percentage fell below .400 and his three-point shooting dropped below .300 for the first time since his rookie year. His performance swung wildly, alternating between decent games and periods of complete invisibility.
In a puzzling game on December 12, the Heat were anticipated to easily defeat the struggling Raptors. While they won 114-104, Rozier finished near the bottom of the scoring tally, going 1-for-6 from beyond the arc and failing to score any two-pointers.
And now, here we are. The Heat traded a first-round pick for a player who was later arrested by the FBI for suspected involvement in point-shaving. On top of that, if Miami flounders this season, the Hornets could end up with a high draft pick. All for a player who has not only underperformed but also gotten into serious legal trouble.
Still, it’s hard to say this is worse than when the Clippers traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and five first-round picks for Paul George. I mean, sorry, Clippers.
