Grade the Trade: Hornets Send Rozier to Miami
Tuesday morning, the Charlotte Hornets took their first step to tearing things down and rebuilding by sending Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a 2027 protected first-round pick.
Here's how our staff graded the trade for the Hornets:
Schuyler Callihan: B
I don't expect Lowry to be in Charlotte for long. They will either buy him out or flip him in another deal.
For it's value, this is a good trade for the Hornets. They were able to get a future first-rounder from a division rival for a player about to enter his 30s. With a coaching change/roster overhaul likely on the way, it makes all the sense in the world to move T-Ro.
All that being said, I do think Rozier could have been a key part of turning the Hornets around. They're going to need some veterans on this roster to be able to make that turn, so in that respect it's hard to say it's a great trade.
Matt Alquiza: B+
It was inevitable. Charlotte was going nowhere with this current core and Rozier was having too good of a season to be stuck on the Hornets. Rozier now has a chance to win ball games and playoff series, and Charlotte has a future first round pick and a veteran guard who should garner some trade interest around the deadline.
Ian Black: B+
Rozier has been fantastic season, and moving him when you’re 21 games under .500 makes perfect sense. Getting back a first-round pick with two more years and $51 million more dollars left on his contact was fine work.
Sam Dracula: B+ for Charlotte, A+ for Miami
Rozier is a big-time scorer that will make that Miami team better and he’s under a contract there for another few years. For Charlotte, breaking up the core was long overdue. I'm sure Charlotte would have loved to have gotten two 1st rounders for him but Lowry is an asset if he stays or if he’s flipped for something else.
Pat Fitzsimmons: C
Great for Miami to add a scorer like Terry without giving up any of their young players. Bad for for Charlotte for not getting more in return for their leading scorer besides a veteran guard who likely will never play for the Hornets, and a 2027 lottery protected pick. If Hornets are able to trade Lowry for more assets than it can jump up to a B for Charlotte, but if they buy him out, it goes down to an F.
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