Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier has seen his name in trade rumors quite a bit over the last few months after he underperformed in his first full season in Miami. However, interest in the veteran has seemingly been limited to this point.
It seems as if the Heat could explore another option for offloading Rozier’s contract if they can’t move him in a trade. Reportedly, Miami has “some interest” in buying out Rozier, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, though Fischer noted that a buyout does not appear to be “imminent.”
“Earlier this month Miami traded Haywood Highsmith to Brooklyn in a move that both got the Heat under the luxury tax and set them up to re-sign Dru Smith on a three-year deal,” Fischer wrote.
“That might not be the last of the financial maneuvering on South Beach. 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.”
Rozier is currently under contract for just one more season. After he makes an excess of $26 million in the coming 2025-26 season, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026.
The guard didn’t play like someone worthy of his salary a season ago. He had easily one of the worst scoring campaigns of his pro career, as he averaged only 10.6 points per game on poor shooting. Rozier buried just 39.1 percent of his shots from the field and 29.5 percent of his looks from deep.
His place in the Heat’s rotation grew shaky, especially near the end of the season. From March 10 through the Heat’s season finale on April 13, he mustered double digits in scoring just once, and that was in a contest against the lowly Washington Wizards on March 31. Limited action was largely to blame. He also didn’t see any action in the playoffs following that stretch.
If the Heat really don’t want to have Rozier in the fold for the start of the coming season, the best course of action for the team could be to push for a buyout. Miami has evidently had no luck trying to find a trade partner in a Rozier deal, so all options should be on the table.
Maybe rumors of a possible Rozier buyout will grow louder as the start of the 2025-26 campaign begins to draw nearer. On the contrary, if the team opts to keep him around this season, perhaps he’ll get a chance to redeem himself with productive play.