NBA Offseason Rumors: Miami Heat willing to shell $20 million plus to move on from unfavorable asset

In these final weeks of the offseason, the Miami Heat are a team still looking to make some alterations to their roster. According to recent developments, the front office is eager to part with one asset by any means.

Earlier this summer, veteran point guard Terry Rozier saw his name pop up in trade rumors. However, Miami has been unable to find a team willing to take on him and his sizable salary.

While breaking down his latest intel around the NBA, insider Jake Fischer detailed the latest regarding Rozier’s future. If the Heat aren’t able to work out a trade, a contract buyout could be their next course of action.

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“Sources say Miami still hopes to part with veteran guard Terry Rozier even though there is said to be scant trade interest in the 31-year-old. Rozier is scheduled to make $26.6 million this season and the Heat are said to have some interest in buying him out. To be clear, though, no buyout appears imminent,” Fischer wrote on Thursday.

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The Miami Heat have shown some interest in buying out Terry Rozier, per @JakeLFischer “Sources say Miami still hopes to part with veteran guard Terry Rozier even though there is said to be scant trade interest in the 31-year-old. Rozier is scheduled to make $26.6 million this

The Heat acquired Rozier in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets at the 2024 trade deadline. This change of scenery hasn't panned out for him, as his impact in Miami has been limited.

Rozier's production saw a steep decline last season, averaging 10.6 points and 2.6 assists across 64 games. This minimal output isn't enough for Miami as they look to compete in the Eastern Conference, especially considering his salary is over $26 million.

The Miami Heat are having a hard time finding a trade partner for Terry Rozier

Earlier in his NBA career, Terry Rozier was viewed as an offensive-minded point guard capable of providing a strong scoring punch. However, that has not been the case over the past year and a half since he joined the Miami Heat. Now, the front office finds themselves with an expensive asset whose value might be the lowest it has ever been.

Between his high salary, decreased production and off-court drama, trading Rozier is an uphill battle for the Miami Heat. According to insider Ethan Skolnick, Miami has been actively trying to move him for frontcourt depth. That said, Rozier currently has little to no value in the trade market.

"The Heat have been actively shopping the expiring final year of Rozier's contract (worth $24-26 million depending on incentives) for just about anything, but specifically frontcourt help. They have found no takers," Skolnick wrote on Aug. 19. "Other teams saw Rozier's dramatic decline as well: including a lot of overdribbling into bad shots."

If they're unwilling to part with first-round draft capital to move Rozier, the Heat might be stuck working out a buyout with the veteran guard.

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About the author

Kevin McCormick

Kevin McCormick is a basketball writer at Sportskeeda with over four years of experience in journalism and a bachelor's degree in Sports Management Marketing from Holy Family University.

Kevin has worked with various notable outlets throughout his career, including 97.3 ESPN, ClutchPoints, Heavy Sports, and Sports Illustrated/FanNation, before joining Sportskeeda in March 2022.

Specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage, Kevin's passion for basketball stems from his hometown team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Among his favorite players are Kevin Durant, Chet Holmgren, and Steph Curry, while his all-time favorites include Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

Kevin holds Coach K in high regard for the large input he's had on the game helping mold players across multiple generations. Kevin believes the iconic rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson helped elevate the league to its current status.

Through his writing, Kevin provides in-depth analysis and insights into player and coach quotes. He prioritizes sourcing information from credible and reliable outlets.

Kevin enjoys reading, aiming to finish at least one book per month, and he is a big fan of music.

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