AUGUST 24: The Hornets have officially signed Rozier to his extension, the team announced today in a press release.
“In his two seasons with the Hornets, Terry Rozier has been an instrumental part of our team,” president of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. “Terry is a highly competitive, tough and talented player that has continually improved all aspects of his game. He has provided leadership and an infectious work ethic that has been a tremendous benefit to our younger players. Terry is an important member of our young, talented team and we are thrilled to have him as a member of the Hornets organization for years to come.”
AUGUST 19: The Hornets and guard Terry Rozier have agreed to a four-year contract extension, agent Aaron Turner tells Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The deal, which locks up Rozier through the 2025/26 season, is guaranteed and is for the maximum amount the Hornets could have offered before the 27-year-old reached free agency, according to Charania. That means it’ll start at about $21.49MM in 2022/23 (120% of Rozier’s $17.91MM salary for ’20/21) and will be worth approximately $96.26MM over four years.
Acquired by the Hornets in the sign-and-trade deal that sent Kemba Walker to Boston in 2019, Rozier had enjoyed the two best seasons of his NBA career in Charlotte. In 2020/21, he established new career highs in PPG (20.4), APG (4.2), and FG% (.450), among other categories.
Rozier has also become a reliable threat from beyond the arc, knocking down 39.6% of his 7.5 three-point attempts per game in 132 total contests for the Hornets. He shot three-pointers at a lesser rate (35.4%) on a lesser volume (3.5 attempts per game) during his four years with the Celtics.
Rozier’s play and the emergence of Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball made the Hornets willing to part with Devonte’ Graham in free agency this summer. Rozier and Ball will lead a talented backcourt that also includes free agent addition Ish Smith and 2021 lottery pick James Bouknight.
A total of seven veteran players have now agreed to contract extensions since the new league year began, with Rozier joining Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, Julius Randle, and Marcus Smart. Three players – Luka Doncic, Trae Young, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – have also finalized rookie scale extensions, as our tracker shows.
That is VERY surprising. I guess Charlotte sees more in Rozier than most of the peanut gallery around here, myself included.
Why? He’s been great with Charlotte… easily deserves this contract
Agreed
Why? How about because Charlotte just spent their last two lottery selections on guards? Which one do you think Charlotte should give up on being a starter for them? Are they giving up on Bouknight before his first game? You don’t spend a lottery pick on a guy basically guaranteed to be a bench player for the next 5 years. Especially when your front court is not exactly star studded. Rozier has not been bad, but Charlotte has drafted like he has been.
They could use multi guard lineups, due to Ball’s size and versatility, and also…you do need more than 1 or 2 guards on your roster, and they just lost 3 of them…
Rozier has been the opposite of bad, he’s been really good. They want to be a playoff team and having 3 good guards helps that. They can play 3-guard lineups, plus if they decide Bouknight is too good to be first guard off the bench — Rozier is an even better trade asset because of the extension. There’s literally nothing that’s not a positive about this.
I appreciate that you like Rozier. But taking him out of the equation, long term signed players are not better trade assets than short term signed players. All other things being equal, would you rather trade for a guy that you will have to pay for 1 year or for 5 years? Especially for a good, not great, player like Rozier.
Him being locked up for more years definitely helps his trade value… He’s not overpaid at that number and he’s a positive asset – a guard who can score 20 or close to 20 points per game and do so efficiently with great outside shooting.
Bouknight is a nice developmental piece for sure. If he progresses rapidly he could carve out a niche and Rozier is still very tradeable next season. If Bouknight takes 2-3 years before he is able to warrant a larger role (my guess) Rozier becomes and even more tradeable asset unless he falls off a cliff in the next 2 seasons. Adding to this Ball will be commanding a salary increase in this same window. Seems like a solid move all around for the Hornets
Who’s to say they don’t trade him next year. After Bouknight has a season under his belt.
Bouknight should not be so counted on.
Given they let go of Graham and Monk, this was a needed signing, but 4/$92 is a lot for a short SG with an on-off close to zero.
I don’t see CHA breaking out of their 9th/10th rut.
“Rozier and Ball will lead a talented backcourt that also includes free agent addition Ish Smith and 2021 lottery pick James Bouknight. ”
“Talented” may be true adjective, but so is depleted.
Riller is lost too, with Graham & Monk. Added Oubre is listed at guard, so he is there at least. Bouknight is liable to be another Monk, always teasing. But it’s not a good look when the subtracted could beat the added. Maybe Luke wanted to opin that
A logjam was replaced by a ‘talented group’.
For top 5 teams such as Lakers and Suns,
Rozier is worth 4 year $40 million
Two factors,
1. Championship run
2. $125 million luxury tax payment for Rozier alone each year
4 year $500 million tax payment for Rozier alone
Hornets being hornets. Jordan is proof that skill on the court means nothing outside of it in regards to running a team or evaluating talent. One of the worst run teams in the league. You can pick up a similar player to Rozier in the first round of every draft. Terrible use of money.
clearly there is a bit of hyperbole in my statements but $20M on Rozier is not an effective use of cap space when you aren’t even making the playoffs. You don’t have to max out every decent player on your roster.
Well, the question is how much space did they really have over these next few years, when you consider potential extensions for Bridges and PJ Washington?
…I would also add it’s only a slight increase in what he is currently making, albeit for 4 more years
I probably wouldn’t max Washington either. I don’t see what you see in him apparently.
Who said anything about max?
The article…
“The deal, which locks up Rozier through the 2025/26 season, is guaranteed and is for the maximum amount the Hornets could have offered..”
I meant about PJ Washington…but to your point, it was the most they could have offered him in an extension. If he reached free agency, it’s not anywhere near his potential maximum., not that he would get it…again, it’s just slightly above what he is currently making.
I would like to see him get to the FT line 2 or 3 more times a game, and be more consistent with the defense he is capable of playing, and if he does either of those things, this contract actually becomes arguably a steal
ok I thought you meant to factor in Washington at the max they could pay him too.
I don’t think Rozier is a bad player but seeing Schroder settle for $5M means I wouldn’t pay Rozier 20M. I guess I just see these players as being more interchangeable. Deals like this one are the ones that prevent you from being able to sign better players down the line
Rozier is better than Schroder…but what players down the line does this preclude them from signing, out of curiosity? Also, how would those players fit into the current timeline of their roster?
I honestly don’t know all available free agents for the next few years but Zach Levine and whoever else might become available
Would you rather pay Lavine some way higher amount though?
Personally. yes
Rozier is far from overpaid on this extension. He is a quality NBA starter who has consistently produced for two teams in different roles. $20MM per is starter not all-star money.
Also to be clear, he was not given a max contract, Charolette offered him the max amount they could to extend him. If he waited until next year to sign they could’ve offered him roughly $36MM in 2022 with 7% raises annually.
Now when you compare his salary to other players making similar money he clearly fits in this group.
Buddy Hield, Julius Randle, Malcolm Brogdon, Tim Hardaway Jr, Mike Conley, Harrison Barnes, Danilo Gallinari, Gary Harris, Jerami Grant, Jarrett Allen, Domantas Sabonis, Fred VanVleet, Zach Lavine, Goran Dragic, Lonzo Ball, Clint Capela, Davis Bertans
Based on age and career trajectory I would put Rozier in the middle of this group of players.
We have a minor disagreement on max. My max meant “the most you can pay him” but I understand your point as well. Do note that most of those players you just mentioned are on losing teams. Which is exactly my point! You pay role players this type of money maybe when you’re one of the top 5 teams, not barely making playoffs in a league where 50% or more make the playoffs.
“Not an effective us of cap space” were my words
It’s hard for me to consider a player who put up 20/4/4 with 57.4 TS% last season a “role player”. His efficiency and overall production makes him a quality starter on any team in the league.
@Casor
Really? You can pick up a 20ppg guard easillllly on every draft? that’s such a silly thing to say. most drafts would be lucky to have 1 or 2 players of that caliber. But also, whos to say if the Hornets would be in a draft position to get one? poor statement.
“a similar player” is what I said and I said what I meant. HE never averaged 20ppg until last year when he was made a focal point of the team. Just because you lose him doesn’t mean 20ppg goes into the abyss. someone else steps up! That’s the way of the world.
A rookie might average 12ppg and a few other players average 2-3 more ppg.
I mean…he was pretty efficient at those numbers though, and also does more than just score. He plays off the ball, can playmake, gives them defensive energy at both guard positions. He also shot the 3 at close to 40%, and shooting is something they desperately need. There are worse contracts out there, but when you look at potential free agents moving forward, and the idea of them going to Charlotte, and the potential
of maybe needing to pay more to keep him next year, it’s hard to see much wrong with this. Ya, you could make trades, but it’s not like Rozier isnt a fit for what they need
@Casor
ok…”similar ” to a 20ppg point guards are NOT readily available in the draft each year where any team can easily acquire one. Im not a Rozier fan but he HAS improved from being a volume shooter to being a scorer with good slash lines across the board. With Boston he was a 14ppg/36 minutes on a shooting line of 38/35/77 line. With the Hornets he’s an actual 19 ppg (48 minutes) with a 43/39/84 line. Great improvement. He had 1 year left on his deal and the 29ppg showing gave the Hornets confidence he wasn’t a fluke and gave him an extension.
Like I said, they’re aren’t a few 20+ pg , easily available in each draft like you said. And there’s no guarantee they’ll be available when the Hornets are drafting. Settle one spot and move on.
meant 20ppg
yeah I guess I just don’t value undersized shooting guards who shoot 42% from FG but great from 3. Seems like I can get those guys easily. 20ppg is indicative of his team and role and not necessarily talent level
@Casor
You probably still view him as a volunteer scorer the way he was in Boston. However, he’s improved his efficiency a lot. The fact that he’s scoring like that on a bad team actually speaks to his efficiency since the defense has fewer players to focus on stopping defensively. I only know this because I researched it in discussions regarding Colin Sexton. The two are a part of a very small group of 8 guards that scored at least 20ppg on a minimum of 45/35/80 shooting. The hang up is the player’s caliber doesn’t yet synch with the esteem of a “star player”. The numbers say high scoring with good efficiency but neither is considered in the same class as Kyrie, Curry, Levine, Middleton, Beal,etc who are three other shooters to accomplish the 20pt on 45/35/80 slash
Good for him. He could still be better, but I liked his game before his draft, and have liked watching him grow. Of course, his affinity for Dwyane Wade also adds a little more respect there, but still cool to see a guy like him get paid
I expect them to be really good this year. I would question letting Riller go, and replacing someone like Zeller with someone that needs the ball in their hands a little more in Plumlee, and they could use another shooter at the 2/3 spots, but they added pieces in areas of need, and I really liked them to potentially make a run at the 5th seed at the end of last year, before their entire team got injured. Hopefully they can stay healthy
He’s worth it. Had a great yr last yr. And can play with LaMelo. He gives them leadership too. Good signing. Bouknight eventually will start. But there’s not need to rush this. Hornets had a great draft. They will be in playoffs this yr.
Will eventually start? When? When his rookie deal is up before Rozier’s extension is up? Barring injury, Bouknight is already done for the Hornets. Either that or they will have an expensive albatross in Rozier coming off the bench.
Trading Bouknight now is the best move for Charlotte because his value will never be higher because he won’t get the PT to improve.
I think you put way too much into starting necessarily mattering in a team’s rotation. If 1 of their combo guards ends up being a primary scoring option off the bench, that fills a necessary role that winning teams have, and there are lineups where they can potentially play together
I dont understand the idea of their 2 other guards precluding Bouknight from getting minutes
They shouldn’t trade Bouknight now, and I can’t understand why you’re so adamant that 3 guards is a problem. There are plenty of minutes to go around. There’s also nothing to say Charlotte can’t play a small ball line-up. There are options. It’s better to have options than to not.
First off every team needs a three guard rotation. Cause of injuries and time missed. Bouknight is a rookie. What’s the rush for you. Rozier could be traded next yr if Bouknight is the next Klay. Are you a Hornet Homer like crazyMart, the Warrior m ascot. Rozier has earned his mins and time. That’s how you treat a player. That does that for your team. Ball, Rozier, Bouknight can all avg 30 mins or more. So why is this an issue.
I think having Bouknight makes it easier to give Rozier this contract. Rozier, to me, is best as a 6th man / combo G. I’d be hesitant to spend this kind of money on that type of player if I didn’t have a (projected, eventual) starting backcourt in place under RSC’s for the next 3-4 years.
Guards (or those listed as guards) usually see between 105-110 mins a game. Not a problem to get three guys starter level minutes, with some to spare, as long as one of the guys can play both spots at a high level.
I’m not a big fan of Rozier, but I wouldn’t be too critical of this signing. CHA is getting ahead of next year’s FA market, and that usually results in paying more than the player figures to command in that market. But maybe they were instead asking: Will he, or his equivalent, sign with CHA in that market, without them going higher to make it? By how much? Is continuity and/or certainty worth the difference? Which answers are more important depends upon what CHA thinks of its current team. I think CHA’s core is good, and it’s certainly mostly young (RSCs) and controllable. Rozier is one of the few vets in the core, and the only one that (until this contract) they could lose next summer. Not saying it’s a good deal. But it’s certainly a rational one, and checks a lot of boxes in the art of team building.
I get the reactions bc it’s big money.
But Norman Powell just signed 5 yr 90 mill; Gary Trent 3 yr 54 mill respectively.
Rozier has been better than those guys, especially if his year last year is real. Just a couple years ago people thought hornets overpaid for Rozier.
Rozier has a HEART and a CHARACTER and Shroeder doesnt. It’s as simple as that. My issue is why did the Hornets let Monk go? He was shooting lights out off the bench last year…
Feels to be about ~2 AAV over what I would have projected but again I think that’s more to do with with my calibrations not being up to snuff on what the “new” cap will be going forward –
NBA is oozing money, a good time to be an above avg but not great NBA player today
Community will have to adjust to these new prices or everyone of this ilk is going to be looked at as overpayed in here moving forward. Comparing him to Schroeders price (an anomaly ) isn;t going to be viewer friendly either or really apt for the situation
* I like what Cha is doing, they need some exp and Roz provides that- Gut feeling that that Oubre contract plays well for them and he’s a good fit these next 2 years
Guess so
I’d still take Scary Terry over Kemba in a heartbeat. You can run, but you can’t hide.
When Scary Terry was on the Celtics, many Celts’ blogging fans thought he was awful. Wanted someone, I think Wanamaker, to take his minutes. Rozier is too short and Middleton shot over him in the playoffs which hastened his departure. But then he went to Charlotte &. became a leader & minor star, especially with his excitingly good 3 point shooting. Celts lost out.
Hornets looked up & coming to me at the end of last year especially with Miles Bridges! Now, with Hayward and LeMelo Ball, the Martins, etc. watch out this season. On the way. Finally!
Rozier is a starting PG in the NBA. Especially for Charlotte he’s done very well. Just look at his stats and mins. Hornets have Bouknight, Ball, Obrue are wings today. Ball can play the point. But he’s more a combo guard. Rozier will have no problem getting 32 mins with Graham gone. I’m a Scary Terry guy. Would of loved to have him on Knicks.
What is with this constant assumption that BOUKNIGHT is a regular maybe a star? He isn’t even proven on the college level. He just looked lottery-like in workouts; he looked ordinary at UConn. Announcers said something about an injury, whatever. CHA drafted talent talent, not an answer… he’s a rookie for the future, not an asset to get the team into the playoffs.
I doubt that that Lamelo will be there for his quick stardom. BTW, he is due for a sophmore slump, and I was one of the few who supported his high draft ranking. I doubt he is done being the golden child. A Ball-Bouknight duo may please the fanboys but it won’t beat other EC playoff-pushers…
Which brings us back to, looking at the guard unit, Rozier becomes more crucial without Graham, and worth the money.