Heat and Hornets trade veteran guards

In a Tuesday morning move, two NBA division rivals engaged in a trade involving veteran guards.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Charlotte Hornets are sending Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a protected first-round pick in 2027.

Currently sitting at a record of 24-19 after three consecutive losses, the Heat have decided to part ways with Lowry, who was recently moved to a bench role. On the other hand, the Hornets, with a 10-31 record, are focusing on acquiring assets to aid in their rebuilding efforts. Wojnarowski mentioned that Charlotte is exploring the possibility of redirecting Lowry to another team in a trade before the February 8 trade deadline.

JUST JN: Miami is nearing a trade to acquire Charlotte’s Terry Rozier for a package sending Kyle Lowry and draft compensation that includes a first-round pick, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/FGFkpDifYe

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Terry Rozier, 29, is enjoying the best season of his professional career, averaging career-highs of 23.2 points and 6.6 assists per game over 30 games. Although he did not make the postseason during his five-year stint with the Hornets, Rozier played a significant role for the Boston Celtics in playoff runs from 2016 to 2019, notably stepping up as the starting point guard during the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals after Kyrie Irving’s injury.

On the other side, 37-year-old Kyle Lowry, who signed a three-year, $85 million deal with the Heat in 2021, hasn’t made the anticipated impact. This season, he is averaging 8.2 points and 4.0 assists per game, marking his lowest scoring output since the 2008-09 season.