The Miami Heat couldn’t have envisioned how bad the Terry Rozier trade would be when they made it. Nevertheless, more than a year later, the Heat are still battling the ill effects of such a short-sighted move that, in retrospect, never made the most sense.

I understand no one likes a Monday Morning Quarterback, but the Heat can’t seem to shake the disaster trade that was the one that netted them Rozier from back in 2024. It was a completely unnecessary move that put the Heat in a much worse long-term position than they needed to be in.

The risk was certainly not worth the squeeze.

The line of thinking is somewhat understandable, but even looking back, it was probably a risk that the Heat shouldn’t have taken. I suppose you have to give them some credit in trying to surround Jimmy Butler with more talent at the time, but knowing what we know now, it was a last-ditch move to save a relationship that was probably already over.

And to a certain extent, it’s not even about just Rozier. Even though it doesn’t help that Rozier has been downright nightmarish on the court for the Heat, the disastrous part of this trade goes well beyond just his depressing on-court play.

The biggest issue with the Rozier trade

The biggest issue many Heat fans had with the Rozier trade is the cost. It’s the 2027 first-round pick that the Heat included in the deal to Charlotte that has made this one of the worst deals in recent Heat history.

The inclusion of that 2027 first-round pick has completely handcuffed the Heat over the last season and a half in truly being in the conversation to make a big splash for a star player. Not having that 2027 first-round pick pretty much limited the Heat from being able to use their 2026 and 2028 first-round picks in any deals for star players.

Even if the Heat wanted to get in the conversation for a star player, the Rozier trade would limit them significantly.

It might be the worst trade in Heat history

In many ways, the Heat might be considered stuck in this “gap” year because of this deal.

If that’s the case, there’s an argument to be made that this might be in the conversation for the worst Heat trade in team history. The fact that the Heat can’t even trade him in the final year of his deal makes this move look even worse in retrospect.

Miami clearly would prefer for Rozier not to be on the team’s roster heading into next season. I don’t think there are any questions about that. Yet, because of the fact that he’s a negative asset, there aren’t any teams willing to take Rozier on, even as an expiring contract without the inclusion of a sweetener from the Heat.

For as bad as the original deal for Rozier may have been, it’d be even worse if the Heat decided to attach an asset to his contract to trade him now.

The Heat have made some bad deals in the past, but I don’t believe there are any worse, especially in recent history, than the one for Rozier. It’s been so bad that it still haunts them to this day.