NBA Rumors: Heat Almost Traded One Ex-Celtics Guard For Another

The Miami Heat are, by all indications, trying to trade Terry Rozier.

Rozier, 31, is on an expiring contract and is set to earn $26.6 million this season, per Spotrac. Recent reports on Rozier revealed that Miami is struggling to find suitors for the former Boston Celtics guard, who is a career 18.1 points per 36 minutes.

However, new intel from NBA insider Jake Fischer of “The Stein Line” revealed the Washington Wizards recently spoke with the Heat about acquiring Rozier. According to Fischer, Washington and Miami discussed the framework for a trade that would have sent Marcus Smart to the Heat and Rozier to the Wizards. 

The complete details of the trade proposal were not communicated by Fischer, although he also noted the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks were among the teams who spoke with Washington about Smart.

Smart, of course, ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 22, approximately 48 hours after the Wizards and Smart reached a buyout agreement.

Smart joining the Lakers sent many Celtics fans — including The Ringer’s Bill Simmons — into a tizzy. However, Smart joining the Heat may have been even more jarring, especially with Boston and Miami having faced off in key postseason matchups in recent years. Had Rozier been involved in a Smart-Heat deal, the reactions from Celtics Nation would have been even spicier.

The dust has settled on the Smart sweepstakes, and he’ll be playing alongside LeBron James and Luka Dončić in 2025-26. Meanwhile, the Heat are likely still working the phones to move Rozier.