Point guard Terry Rozier is putting together a career year with the Charlotte Hornets. When that happens, there’s always buzz about potentially losing the player, contract squabbles, etc. That’s just today’s NBA.
So it may not be a bad idea for the Hornets to try to work out an extension with Rozier … though it’s doubtful one will come before he hits free agency, opined Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
“I don’t think the odds are good that the Hornets and Rozier would agree to an extension in advance of free-agency,” Bonnell wrote. “The positive for the Hornets is Rozier’s Bird Rights would allow them to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him.”
Rozier is eligible for free agency at the end of next season. The Hornets (24-22) are fighting for a playoff spot. Actually, they currently hold the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Along with Rozier, of course, forward Gordon Hayward and rookie guard LaMelo Ball are among the major reasons for improvement. Mostly, the Hornets seem to be coming together as a team.
When that happens, you want to keep everyone in place.
Rozier, 27, is averaging 20.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 44 games. He is due to earn $17.9 million next season.
“The contract was structured for salaries to descend each year,” Bonnell noted. “That was smart for salary-cap management, but now Rozier might have earned a big raise in order to stay in Charlotte beyond the current contract.”
More from Charlotte
- The Hornets are coming off a road 114-104 win over the Washington Wizards and the Wizards seemed to appreciate Charlotte’s style of play. “They do a really good job of moving the ball,” Wizards center Robin Lopez said. “In transition, getting open threes.”
- Hornets center Cody Zeller is among those to credit Rozier. “We have confidence in him, and I know he has confidence in himself. In the last few minutes, he makes big shots. He’s been a great leader for us all year.”
- The Hornets made an offer for Los Angeles Lakers center/forward Montrezl Harrell, and make try to make another run at current Lakers center Andre Drummond this offseason, as we relayed in an earlier post.
