The Terry Rozier Trade Could Be A Game Changer For The Miami Heat

On January 23rd, the Miami Heat traded Kyle Lowry and a 2027 protected first-round pick in return for Terry Rozier. Disregarding the pick, the trade was great for Miami in terms of who they gave up for who they got back. This current season, the biggest problem for the Heat has been that they don’t have a starter-caliber point guard, which is why there were trade talks at the beginning of the season for both Damian Lillard and James Harden. However, with the addition of Rozier, who is putting up borderline all-star numbers this season, the Heat are much more likely to contend for the title this season and be a legitimate threat to the rest of the league. 

Lowry, who is now nearly 40 years old, has been declining greatly in terms of ability over the past few seasons. He’s been considered a liability for the Heat since his offensive skillset is basically non-existent now, as he struggles in terms of efficiency and has gotten worse with his playmaking, despite it still being decent. Defensively, Lowry is still an above-average defender, however, his lateral quickness and agility have deteriorated due to his age, which will continue to get worse. 

Rozier, on the other hand, is only 29 years old and is still in his prime, and he’s been having the best season of his entire career. He’s averaging 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in the 2023-24 season. Rozier is an efficient player and is also a decent 3-point shooter. Although he is not that good of a defensive player, that’s not what the Heat are currently looking for on their roster, as they already have some of the best defensive players in the league in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, while also having a young defender in Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Rozier’s numbers are significantly higher than Lowry’s, and he’s also playing more efficiently, though he is a worse shooter from beyond the arc. Despite that, he is still a good shooter from back there and could knock down shots whenever the Heat needs him to. He has passed Lowry in terms of playmaking ability and definitely in terms of scoring ability, so this is a huge offensive boost for Miami. 

For the Heat, this trade has boosted them from a team that might be considered a contender to a team that is now a legitimate threat and one that could even win the championship this season. Before this trade, the team was already considered one of the best defensive teams in the league, but now the same can be said for them offensively as they now have four players averaging over 20 points per game, the only team in the league that is currently doing that. 

Of course, with this trade, the biggest concern that comes from it is that the Heat lack backcourt defense. However, the team has two forwards, Jimmy Butler and Jaime Jaquez Jr, who are great defenders and are both capable of defending guards due to their athleticism and speed. So if there is ever a matchup for Miami where they are facing an offensively gifted guard opponent, they can easily switch Butler or Jaquez over to defend them.   

For the 2024 season, this trade is huge for Miami. They have yet to play a game with a fully healthy roster after the Rozier trade, so it is still to be seen how they actually perform. This trade could potentially lead the Heat to at least a conference finals appearance, and if they can find a way to perfect their chemistry in the coming months, they might be NBA Champions by the end of the season.