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Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat drives against Kevin Durant.

The Miami Heat are actively exploring trade options for veteran guard Terry Rozier as he enters the final year of his contract, Ethan J. Skolnick of Five Reasons Sports Network reported in August. Rozier’s expiring deal, valued between $24 million and $26 million depending on incentives, has yet to attract a trade partner.

Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey has outlined a bold three-team trade scenario that would allow Miami to flip Rozier while reshaping the roster for the 2025-26 season.

Bailey’s Blockbuster Three-Team Trade

Bailey’s proposed trade would involve the Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Utah Jazz:

Miami Heat receive: Austin Reaves and Svi Mykhailiuk

Los Angeles Lakers receive: Lauri Markkanen

Utah Jazz receive: Terry Rozier, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, a 2026 first-round pick from L.A., a 2031 first-round pick from L.A., and a 2031 first-round pick from Miami

The trade would give Miami a younger, more versatile backcourt capable of spacing the floor and creating offense.

“Reaves is a more natural facilitator than [Tyler] Herro, Norman Powell and maybe even Davion Mitchell,” Bailey wrote. “He might also be the best of that group at getting into the teeth of a defense and forcing it to collapse. That would give Herro and Powell more high-efficiency catch-and-shoot opportunities.”

Rozier’s Decline and Opportunity for Miami

Rozier, 31, has played 10 NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, and Heat. Last season, he started 23 of 64 games, averaging 10.6 points on 39.1% shooting, including 29.5% from three-point range, along with 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 25.9 minutes per game.

This marked a sharp decline from his 2023-24 stint with Charlotte, when he averaged 23.2 points on 45.9% shooting with 6.6 assists across 30 games. By moving Rozier, Miami could exchange a declining veteran contract for a younger, more productive guard while adding depth and shooting to its backcourt.

Upside and Risk

Bailey cautioned that the trade carries some risk. Reaves is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season. However, integrating him into Miami’s system for one year could provide the Heat with a strong opportunity to re-sign him.

Reaves has averaged 14.5 points on just 9.9 field-goal attempts per game during his career, making him an analytically friendly scorer who could boost Miami’s offensive efficiency. The Lakers’ rising star is coming off a breakout year, posting career-best averages of 20.2 points on 46 percent overall shooting, 37.7% from three, with 4.8 assists against 2.2 turnovers per game.

According to NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin, Reaves is seeking a contract in the “Tyler Herro range of $30 million a year,” after declining the Lakers’ four-year, $89.2 million offer this offseason. Herro, the 13th overall pick in 2019, signed a four-year, $130 million rookie-scale extension in 2022 and has emerged as the Heat’s leading scorer and playmaker.

NBA insider Jovan Buha recently predicted that Reaves could command a deal in the range of four years and $120-plus million.

Svi Mykhailiuk adds additional depth and long-range shooting, helping strengthen a backcourt that struggled to generate consistent offense at times last season.

Win-Win Deal for All Teams

For the Lakers, acquiring Lauri Markkanen would provide a complementary forward alongside Luka Dončić. Markkanen, who signed a five-year, $238 million extension last year, brings scoring, floor spacing, and versatility to pair with the team’s stars.

The Jazz, in turn, would receive multiple draft picks and young talent in exchange for Markkanen, potentially reshaping their roster and providing future flexibility.

Despite the risks, Bailey concluded that the trade could elevate Miami’s offense, strengthen the backcourt, and open the door to future cap flexibility. By flipping Rozier, the Heat could transform their roster while preparing for sustained competitiveness in the Eastern Conference.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo