As rumors surfaced of the Miami Heat having interest in a Terry Rozier buyout, the latest report suggests that route seems to be off the table.
(Image via AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
The Miami Heat have been wanting to pull the plug on the Terry Rozier experiment all offseason. Whether it’s been from being on the trade block, contemplating waive-and-stretch scenarios, or most recently— a buyout.
Rozier is coming off one of the worst seasons statistically of his entire career, averaging his worst scoring production and shooting efficiency since 2018.
Once viewed as the missing piece to a Jimmy Butler-led Heat squad with championship aspirations, Rozier has become one of the league’s worst assets.
During last season, coach Erik Spoelstra attempted to restore Rozier’s value in a shift to a sixth man role, but to no avail. Even worse, he is getting paid a near $26.5 million price tag for the upcoming 2025-26 season, despite eventually playing himself out of Spoelstra’s rotation entirely.
Unfortunately for the Heat, there have been no takers in finding a trade partner this summer. And for a team that has been dangling with the luxury tax for years, eating Rozier’s expiring salary has been viewed as a non-starter in any waive-and-stretch scenario. But what about a buyout?
Terry Rozier reportedly has not shown an interest in negotiating a buyout with the Heat.
Waiving Rozier would have dead salary on Miami’s books for several seasons, rather than have it fall off entirely after this upcoming campaign and move on. However, according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Heat have explored the possibility of buying out Rozier’s contract entirely.
A buyout would give the veteran guard some of his owed salary upfront, but at the cost of losing a portion of it. Buyouts most commonly have made sense when both sides are willing to move on and help facilitate a player’s next landing spot as an unrestricted free agent.
The only problem is there is virtually zero market for Rozier, even at a discounted free agent price tag.
“There have been discussions about a Rozier buyout, but those talks have not gained traction, without any outside options for the veteran guard at the moment, as Rozier remains linked to a federal gambling investigation.”
— Ira Winderman/Sun Sentinel
The fact that teams wouldn’t even be interested to take a flyer on him even at a vet-minimum price tag, shows just how historically bad Rozier’s drop off has been.
Perhaps there would be more of a market if his gambling accusations clear up, but even that is wishful thinking at this point. The last chance to move him is likely to come at next year’s trade deadline, if teams are looking to clear some cap space for next offseason with his expiring salary.
Until then, Rozier will have to prove himself in training camp amid the team’s guard-heavy depth to earn a spot back in the Heat rotation.
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