Philadelphia 76ers: Would Terry Rozier trade make sense?

The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to be active ahead of the March 25 trade deadline. While very few concrete names have been tied to the Sixers, it is not hard to point to the myriad needs of this team. If Philadelphia is to truly compete for a championship, the roster will need considerable upgrades.

One name to watch is Terry Rozier, who is trickling into trade rumors. He has not been tied to Philadelphia — not yet, at least — but if the Hornets consider selling high on the former Louisville standout, he has earned the Sixers’ interest.

The Philadelphia 76ers should look into Terry Rozier’s availability, but there are various factors to consider.

Rozier has long been viewed as an empty-calories scorer with a minimal impact on winning. That was until this season. The 26-year-old has flipped the switch in his second year as a Hornet, averaging 20.3 points and 3.2 assists on 49.0 percent shooting (43.2 percent from deep).

It’s fair to doubt the sustainability of Rozier’s production, but he has clearly taken a step forward. His defense remains a major drawback, but the Sixers would benefit from a spark-plug scorer who can shoot as efficiently as Rozier.

The Hornets are currently seventh in the East and would surely like a playoff appearance after spending big on Gordon Hayward last offseason. That said, Charlotte should not be fooled by the weakness of the Eastern Conference. At 17-18, the Hornets remain far from true contention and Rozier is unlikely to be a significant part of any future championship run in Charlotte. It would be wise to sell high and get assets for someone who, prior to this season, was consistently a negative.

From the Sixers’ perspective, Rozier’s sudden leap at least warrants consideration. He’s the kind of on-ball scoring threat Philadelphia has long needed next to Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. He can also perform off-ball, which has been his role alongside LaMelo Ball and Devonte’ Graham this season.

On paper, Rozier is a mostly ideal offensive fit. His confidence gets the best of him at times, but Rozier would give the Sixers some desperately needed dynamism offensively — especially if a bid for Kyle Lowry or Victor Oladipo falls short.

While Rozier does indeed make sense, it’s natural to have reservations. Again, he has never been this good and could conceivably fall back into the bad habits that plagued him in Boston and in his first Hornets campaign. Also of note is his contract. He is making $18.9 million this season and is on the books for $17.9 million in 2021-22. Even for the Sixers, who won’t have contract flexibility either way, that’s a lot of money to commit to a one-dimensional player of Rozier’s ilk.

In the end, it comes down to what his price tag is. The Hornets, desperate for validation and notoriously content floating around the eighth seed, are probably keen on keeping Rozier unless a fruitful bounty arrives at their doorstep. If the Hornets ask for anything beyond the Sixers’ first-round pick, for example, Daryl Morey should hang up the phone and sleep peacefully.

Even if the Hornets merely want salary filler and a first-round pick, that’s a steep price to pay for a historically unreliable player. Tyrese Maxey has been a non-factor of late, but he’s still important to the Sixers’ future plans. He and Matisse Thybulle should probably be kept off the table in Rozier negotiations.

The easiest path to matching salaries is Danny Green, who is making just north of $15 million. The Sixers will not have cap space, so swapping Green’s expiring for the extra year on Rozier’s contract is appealing. That said, even with Green’s diminishing athleticism, he is a significantly better defender than Rozier. The Sixers have the personnel to cover for Rozier’s lapses, but he becomes a significant weakness in the postseason. Teams will target him every time down the floor.

If the Sixers want to pull it out without including Green, it would likely require a four-for-three trade. That’s a lot of moving pieces. A trade along the lines of Mike Scott, Terrance Ferguson, Tony Bradley, and Vincent Poirier for Rozier, Vernon Carey Jr., and Nick Richards seems unlikely by nature.

In the end, the Sixers should certainly make inquiries on the Rozier front. Whether or not it’s a prudent move, however, will come down to the price tag and the supplementary moves Philadelphia is able to make. If they can get another starting-caliber wing — preferably one who can defend — then Green for Rozier becomes instantly more palatable.