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Terry Rozier is the point guard the Heat have needed
Terry Rozier. Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Terry Rozier is the point guard the Heat have needed

The Miami Heat are close to acquiring Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets. The deal will see Kyle Lowry head to North Carolina, where he could potentially be re-routed in a separate deal. 

Rozier's play style is an ideal fit in Erik Spoelstra's system. He is a rugged defender who can switch on to multiple positions. He's fearless on offense. And he's proven capable of being both a secondary and tertiary option. At 6-foot-1, Rozier may be slightly undersized for his position, yet he has never been seen as someone opposing offenses can try and target. 

Nevertheless, Rozier's ability to create for himself and others will help a stuttering Heat offense. Miami currently ranks 21st in the NBA for offensive rating, per Cleaning The Glass. Rozier's addition should help unlock the All-Star scoring of Jimmy Butler and take some of the creation pressure off of Bam Adebayo's shoulders. 

The fact Miami was able to keep hold of Tyler Herro in the deal is another win for the front office. He is one of Miami's best on-ball playmakers and shot-creators. He could also be used in a potential star trade later down the line.  

Furthermore, Rozier joins Miami with deep postseason experience. During his tenure with the Boston Celtics, Rozier went to the Eastern Conference Finals on two occasions, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers both times. Since moving to the Hornets, he has spent the summers watching playoff basketball at home. So, he likely has a point to prove, which is exactly what the Heat looks for when adding talent.

Rozier has played in 30 games this season. He's averaging 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists, shooting 45.9% from the field and 35.8% from three-point range. Considering Lowry's struggles this season and his clear lack of a first step, Rozier should add some potency to an offense that carried the Heat to the NBA Finals last season. 

This was a smart move by the Heat. Now, they have the type of point guard they sorely needed, and they did it without losing their ability to go star hunting in the future. 

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