Heat acquire Hornets' Terry Rozier for Kyle Lowry, pick
On Tuesday, the Miami Heat obtained Terry Rozier, a guard from the Charlotte Hornets, in exchange for Kyle Lowry, another guard, and a protected first-round pick in 2027.
The agreement brings the Heat a talented shooting guard who is currently having one of his most successful seasons in the NBA, with an average of 23.2 points and 6.6 assists per game.
The Hornets, who have a record of 10-31 and are actively collecting assets for the upcoming trade deadline, will receive a pick in 2027 that is protected for the lottery and will become unprotected in 2028.
ESPN sources have revealed that Charlotte is currently in discussions about potential trades involving their experienced players before the trade deadline. Additionally, they intend to persist in gathering more valuable resources.
According to sources, the Hornets will attempt to transfer Lowry, who is 37 years old, to a different team before the deadline. However, if they are unable to find a suitable agreement for him and his contract worth $29.6 million, there is a possibility that Lowry could be considered for a contract buyout.
The Miami Heat will end up keeping an extra $15.4 million by avoiding luxury tax through the trade, and additionally, they will gain a trade exception worth $6.4 million.
The Hornets, now owned by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin, have new plans to focus on developing young talent like LaMelo Ball and rookie Brandon Miller. They aim to acquire draft picks and young players through possible trades.
At 24-19 and holding the sixth position in the Eastern Conference, the Heat team looks to enhance their guard play by adding Rozier, who is 29 years old. They have high expectations for him, hoping that he can contribute to their success in the Eastern Conference playoffs this year and in future seasons.
On Tuesday, the Miami Heat made a trade with the Charlotte Hornets, acquiring guard Terry Rozier in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a protected first-round pick in 2027. This trade brings the Heat a talented scoring guard who is currently having a strong NBA season, averaging 23.2 points and 6.6 assists per game. The Hornets, who have a record of 10-31, are starting to collect future assets ahead of the trade deadline and will receive a protected pick in 2027 that becomes unprotected in 2028.
They are also discussing other deals for their veteran players and are focused on accumulating assets. The Hornets are expected to try and move Lowry to another team before the deadline, but if they can't find a suitable deal for his expiring contract of $29.6 million, he may end up being bought out. The trade will save the Heat $15.4 million in luxury tax and create a $6.4 million trade exception. Under new ownership, the Hornets are looking to build around young players,
such as LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, and hope to acquire more draft assets and young players in future deals. With a current record of 24-19 and ranking sixth in the Eastern Conference, the addition of Rozier gives the Heat a more dynamic guard and the hope of making a strong playoff run.
