Terry Rozier’s new deal still keeps Charlotte Hornets on the right track

With the news dropping Thursday morning that the Charlotte Hornets will be signing guard Terry Rozier to a four-year, $97 million extension, opinions from fans all over social media seem to be very split on the deal.

There’s no question that Rozier would need a new deal soon with his three-year deal, which he signed after being traded to Charlotte in 2019, expiring after this season. But with the franchise set in stone for LaMelo Ball to be the team’s point guard of the future, and drafting shooting guard James Bouknight with the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft, giving Rozier around $25 million per year hasn’t sat well with some Hornets fans.

The deal will eat up most of a large amount of cap space that Charlotte would have had for next year’s free-agent class and it also leaves questions on whether you can bench Rozier anytime soon if Bouknight ends up playing like a future star.

However, the deal actually keeps the Hornets right track for their current rebuild that is more ahead of schedule than many would have predicted.

After missing the playoffs five straight seasons, this extension shows that the Hornets are tired of losing and ready to get back into the postseason.

Let’s take a look at three reasons why Rozier’s new deal could actually benefit Charlotte’s timeline.

Extending Terry Rozier gives the Charlotte Hornets more depth in the backcourt

To pay a player as much money as the Hornets did with Terry Rozier‘s new contract, you’re telling fans that he is one of the key building blocks of the franchise.

In his two years in Charlotte, Rozier has been one of the team’s most consistent players and has shown up in big moments when needed most.

The argument against this is that the Hornets just invested a high draft pick this offseason in guard James Bouknight, who many experts say could turn into an elite talent in the NBA.

Expectations are that Bouknight will eventually play well enough to be a starter just as Ball did last year when he leapfrogged Devonte’ Graham.

Assuming all goes to plan with Ball, Rozier would be the starting shooting guard that Bouknight would have to replace. It’s a similar situation as last season, but Bouknight is now just in Graham’s midseason role.

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The good news is that the Hornets don’t have to make that decision yet if they don’t want to. Not only would it look bad to bench a guy making $25 million a year, but Bouknight is under Charlotte’s control for each of those years before his rookie contract even ends.

That means the Hornets can have Bouknight be an elite scorer coming off the bench with the option of head coach James Borrego using a completely small-ball lineup with Ball, Rozier, and Bouknight when he pleases.

If Bouknight ends up being the more superior by year three or four of Rozier’s deal, then the good news is Charlotte can lock up Bouknight as the long-term shooting guard with Rozier coming off the books.

The NBA has become a small-ball league and if each of these players lives up to their potential, the Hornets might have one of the league’s best backcourt.

With other players either recently signing extensions and others expected to, locking down Rozier is smart business

Rozier’s deal eliminates Charlotte as a potential landing spot for a big free agent next season. The Hornets would have been one of a handful of teams with a large amount of cap space in the summer of 2022, but Rozier’s new deal begins then and with Gordon Hayward also taking up $31 million for the year, Charlotte will have its hands locked up.

Charlotte isn’t a huge free-agent destination. While Ball and the plethora of young talent on the roster have made the Hornets slightly more appealing, the fact of the matter is that general manager Mitch Kupchak shouldn’t rely on a big free agent get.

Kupchak has said many times that Charlotte will likely be built through the draft and trades.

With many of the 2022 potential free agents like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Luka Doncic already locking up long-term extensions, the class won’t be extremely deep.

A few of the most notable names if they don’t sign an extension will be Zach LaVine, Russell Westbrook, and Bradley Beal.

It’s unlikely that any of those guys will come to Charlotte, and when you factor in that Rozier would have been one of the better unrestricted free agents in the class, the value looks even better for the Hornets.

Starting next season, Rozier will be just the 23rd highest-paid guard in the league next year based on current overall salaries, according to SpotRac, which actually lines up with how he’s performed, if not worse.

Most importantly, the Hornets can now focus on their own free agents getting deals with Miles Bridges and PJ Washington’s rookie deals expiring soon.

Rozier provides veteran leadership to a young Charlotte team

Besides the fact that Rozier is arguably underrated considering he averaged 20.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game last season, there is no denying that he has been a key leader for the Hornets over the last two seasons.

When Borrego made the decision to play Rozier at shooting guard with Graham and Ball at the point in that time, Rozier never publically complained that he wasn’t at his natural position and embraced it.

With Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo no longer in town, Rozier has quickly become one of the most experienced players on the roster at just 27-years-old.

Rozier has also been extremely valuable with the game on the line, according to StatMuse.

He’s improved each season he’s been in the league and you can’t forget the playoff experience he gained while playing for the Boston Celtics, getting all the way to the conference finals.

Rozier likely knows his role with the Hornets is to contribute and improve like he has, while helping guide the younger players as the team improves. With a long-term deal locked up, it’ll be much easier for him to accept that.