Heat Still Expected To Waive Rozier Before Postseason

Rozier isn’t expected to be on the Heat’s postseason roster, according to Chiang, who hears from a source that the club will likely waive the veteran guard in the coming weeks in order to add a new 15th man.

While the Heat kept Rozier on their roster through the trade deadline in case an opportunity arose to use his expiring $26.6MM for salary-matching purposes in a deal, there has been little reason to hang onto him since then. Miami has more than enough breathing room below the luxury tax line to waive Rozier, eat his remaining salary, and sign a replacement to a rest-of-season, minimum-salary contract.

Still, as Chiang explains, the Heat have felt little urgency to make a move involving Rozier’s roster spot since they’ve had no depth-related challenges during the second half of the season. Despite some injuries, the team hasn’t had much playing time available for several youngsters already under contract, including Keshad Johnson and two-way players Trevor Keels, Jahmir Young, and Vladislav Goldin.

Holding off on making a move with that 15th roster spot will also give the club some flexibility to pivot in case health problems impact a specific spot on the depth chart late in the season, Chiang observes. For instance, if a couple guards suffer injuries in the coming weeks, Miami could focus on adding another piece to its backcourt ahead of the postseason.

While there are no shortage of veterans available in free agency, promoting one of their two-way players in order to lock him up to a multiyear deal and make him playoff-eligible would also be an option for the Heat if there are no vets they’re especially high on, Chiang adds.

Because Rozier is on an expiring contract, he’ll have to be waived on or before April 9 to ensure he clears waivers before the last day of the regular season, as our list of key in-season dates shows.