Hornets trade Terry Rozier to Heat for Kyle Lowry, first-round pick

The Miami Heat have acquiredguard Terry Rozier in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets inexchange for guard Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick, asreported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Rozier, 29, is averaging acareer-best 23.2 points this season along with 6.6 assists and 3.9rebounds through 30 games this season. So far, the 37-year-oldLowry, a 2019 NBA champion, has put up 8.2 points, 4 assists and3.5 rebounds per game through 37 games.

The move gives Miami (24-19,sixth in the East) a significant upgrade at the point-guardposition with a player in his prime in Rozier. Lowry was moved tothe bench for the past two games in favor of Caleb Martin as hisage has caught up to him and led to a decline in his quality ofplay.

According to Wojnarowski, the2027 first-round pick is lottery-protected in 2027 and becomesunprotected if it conveys through 2028.

The Hornets, under new ownership(Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin) in the post-Michael Jordan era, arestarting to make moves and embrace a full rebuild around young starLaMelo Ball and 2023 first-round selection BrandonMiller.

With Charlotte planning tocontinue accumulating future assets, notable veterans GordonHayward, Miles Bridges and PJ Washington are names to monitor asthe NBA's Feb. 8 trade deadline approaches.