Miami Heat’s Trade Deadline Recap: Butler Gone, But Rozier Remains
The Miami Heat made a significant move at the 2025 NBA trade deadline, finally resolving the long-standing Jimmy Butler saga by trading him to the Golden State Warriors. In return, Miami acquired Andrew Wiggins as a serviceable replacement along with a protected first-round draft pick. While this trade met the needs of both Butler and the organization, the Heat’s deadline moves were far from ideal. A truly successful deadline would have included a Terry Rozier trade.
Terry Rozier’s Disappointing Tenure in Miami
Since joining Miami, Terry Rozier has struggled, and his performance this season has been particularly underwhelming. The trade deadline presented an opportunity to move him, but no deal materialized. As a result, Rozier remains on the roster and is under contract through the 2025-26 season, a less-than-ideal situation for a team that has fared better without him on the court. His $26.6 million salary for next season likely made it difficult for the Heat to find a trade partner. Head coach Erik Spoelstra Drops Bombshell About Trade Market
Rozier’s Forgettable Season
At last year’s deadline, Miami acquired Rozier in a deal that sent Kyle Lowry and a first-round pick to another team. The hope was that Rozier would add another scoring option to the Heat’s offense. In his first 31 games with Miami, he averaged 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. However, the Heat were eliminated in the first round by the eventual champion Boston Celtics, and Rozier has not lived up to expectations in the 2024-25 season.
This year, Rozier’s production has declined significantly, averaging just 12.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 40.7% from the field and a disappointing 30.6% from three-point range. His struggles have frustrated Heat fans and likely caused Miami’s front office to regret the trade, particularly because they gave up a valuable first-round pick to acquire him.
Now that the 2025 trade deadline has passed, Miami is left with no choice but to finish the season with Rozier in the lineup. His poor play hasn’t helped the team, especially in the wake of Butler’s departure.
Miami Heat’s Success Without Rozier
Rozier’s presence on the court has seemingly had a negative impact on the team. When he has been sidelined, the Heat have posted a 4-2 record, while they have struggled to a 21-26 record with him in the lineup. This stark contrast highlights the team’s improved performance when he isn’t playing.
