Hornets Send Rozier to Heat: Continue to Accumulate Assets for Rebuild

When Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall acquired controlling interest in the Hornets from Michael Jordan in June of 2023, their first edict to General Manager Mitch Kupchak was to acquire young talent and assets that would allow the franchise to build around All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball. Kupchak’s first order of business was to augment the number of selections for the 2023 NBA Draft. He succeeded in that task and selected four new members of the organization (link draft review article here). Kupchak was patient during the first half of the season to see what progress his youthful squad would make and adjust from there.

Having reached the mid-point of the regular season, the Hornets have shown they are not ready for prime time. Their record is 10-31 and they are mired in 13th in the 16 team Eastern Conference. The Hornets are destined for the draft lottery again and a top 10 selection. It is painful for the fans to watch now, but if his plan is executed correctly, brighter days will be evident sooner rather than later. With half of a season of evaluation in front of him, Kupchak made his next move in the rebuild. He sent 29-year-old shooting guard Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat. In return, he received veteran point guard Kyle Lowry and a lottery protected 2027 1st round pick. If not exercised, the pick becomes an unprotected 2028 1st round selection.

Rozier was a veteran leader and second leading scorer for the Hornets. He averaged 23.2 PPG in 35.5 minutes per game. He had a 45.9% field goal percentage and connected on 38.5% of shots from three point land. That latter percentage is what is desirable to the defending Eastern Conference Champions. He also chipped in 3.9 RPG and 6.6 APG. The Heat hope that injecting Rozier into their lineup will lift them from their current spot of sixth place in the Eastern Conference. This deal also relieves the Heat of $15.4 million in luxury tax obligations and creates a $6.4 million trade exemption. This will allow Miami to further bolster their lineup.

Lowry will be a short-term addition for the Hornets. Charlotte will be Lowry’s fifth NBA team. He is in the last year of a three year, $85 million contract that he originally signed with the Toronto Raptors. His cap hit for 2023-2024 is $29,682,540 according to Sportrac. Lowry comes with a wealth of leadership and a championship pedigree having won the 2019 title with Toronto. In the short term, he can help the Hornets by mentoring Ball and spelling him on the court. His greatest value to Charlotte will be what the Hornets do with him around the NBA trade deadline of February 8.

Lowry will be a prime target of teams at the deadline seeking to add the missing piece to a championship run. Among the teams seeking his services could be the Los Angeles Lakers, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and his hometown team of the Philadelphia 76ers. Each team

considers themselves a championship contender but needs to tune up their rotations to maximize their chances. These teams might be seeking a veteran presence, supplemental scoring, or an intelligent decision maker to control the flow of the game. Lowry’s talent and intangibles will mesh nicely with whatever the team acquiring him requires.

Kupchak could be seeking multiple things in return. He might target high upside young talent that is languishing on a contender’s bench. He could seek to add to his already impressive stockpile of future first and second round selections. He could position the Hornets to be included in a multiple team transaction to comply with NBA’s complex and byzantine salary cap. Any move he makes is with an eye to returning to the playoffs in the next season or two.

Moving Lowry will not be Kupchak’s only move. He has other veterans available to contending teams. This transactions will be made to accelerate the rebuild, improve his asset portfolio, and to free up additional playing team for younger players, thus, aiding in their development. Should he be unable to find a taker for Lowry, he has the luxury of letting him and his $29.7 million cap hit leave in the offseason. That space will permit Kupchak to be more aggressive in bringing young but experienced players. Although the standings do not reflect it currently, Kupchak has been masterful in implementing ownership’s prime directive.

The Rozier/Lowry swap is an old fashion sports transaction. Both sides won. Miami gets the immediate help they were lacking in their quest to return to the NBA finals. Charlotte gets more bricks to build a future potential contender upon. The final verdict on this trade will not be known for a years down the road, but for now, each general manager should be smiling at the result.