By August 19, 2021
Photo: Chris Carlso / AP
On Thursday morning, it was reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania that Terry Rozier and the Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a four-year, $97 million contract extension.
Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier has agreed to a four-year, $97 million max contract extension, his agent Aaron Turner of @VerusTeam told @TheAthletic @Stadium. The guaranteed deal takes Rozier through the 2025-26 season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 19, 2021
Rozier is coming off a year filled with career-highs, including his team-leading 20.4 points per game. He also averaged 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals per night all while being one of the NBA’s premier 3-point marksmen. His 222 total 3-pointers made in 2020-21 ranked fifth in the league, and a catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage of 43.3 was seventh among players who attempt at least four catch-and-shoot triples per game.
With this extension, the Hornets keep a team leader and one of the NBA’s best shooters in town long-term. The average annual value sits at $24.25 million over the four seasons, although when released to the public, the exact figures may vary based on contract construction.
Terry Rozier career year last season:
20.4 PPG
4.2 APG
3.2 3PG
45/39/82%He shot 50/40/80% in the clutch last season — the only player to do so with 55+ attempts. pic.twitter.com/eItuRJoqa4
— StatMuse (@statmuse) August 19, 2021
Rewarding your own players is something all NBA teams have to do to maintain healthy relationships with their employees, and it’s impossible to argue Rozier didn’t earn it. He’s improved marginally in both of his seasons with the Hornets, and in key areas, too. He hit 46 percent of his mid-range field goal attempts last season, a marked improvement from the poor shot creator and pull-up shooter he was in his first five seasons. When the team needed him down the stretch, he adapted his style of play and helped orchestrate offense and set up teammates in the absence of LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward and Malik Monk.
The Hornets now have Hayward and Rozier locked in until at least the end of Ball’s rookie contract. The semantics of the deal can be debated like any other contract, but the fact is, Rozier deserved to be paid for his services and the Hornets need to keep talented players in the fold.
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