Six years have passed since Terry Rozier suited up for the Boston Celtics, the team that drafted him with the No. 16 pick in 2015. He spent four years in Boston before he went to Charlotte in a sign-and-trade deal that sent Kemba Walker to the Celtics. Rozier spent four and a half seasons with the Hornets before being traded to the Heat in 2024, the team he's currently with.
Miami thought it was getting a different version of Rozier than the one that showed up in South Beach. In his first full season with the Heat (this past season), he averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, shooting 39.1% from the field and 29.5% from three. He started in only 23 of the 64 games he played.
Rozier has turned into an afterthought in Miami. The Heat attempted to trade him over the summer but ultimately decided to keep him (or were forced to). NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Miami discussed a Rozier-Marcus Smart trade with Washington, but "could not reach an organizational consensus on whether such a trade was a clear upgrade."
Former Celtics guard Terry Rozier has turned into an afterthought
The 31-year-old is entering the final season of his contract, making $26.6 million. There has been speculation that the Heat could buy out his contract, but Rozier was at the Heat's media day on Monday, saying that he's ready for the season. He has a lot to (re)prove.
Tyler Herro recently injured his ankle during a workout. He underwent surgery and is expected to miss eight to twelve weeks. His absence could ignite what Rozier hopes will be a turnaround season. Hey, it could happen, but it's hard to envision Rozier doing enough to justify his salary. His contract is what made the trade so bad for the Heat.
The next season is particularly important for Rozier, who could spend most of it out of the rotation, with Miami prioritizing its younger players. It's not that the Heat have shut the door on the Rozier chapter (he's still around), but it's also not worth putting too much stock in how he'll look this season, after how last season went.
Hopefully, for his sake, he'll be able to have somewhat of a bounce-back season. Perhaps some version of Scary Terry will return, but that might prove to be too much to hope for.