Terry Rozier’s role with the Charlotte Hornets is “no problem.”
Need a point guard? No problem. Switch him to shooting guard? No problem. Defend the opponent’s best perimeter scorer? No problem.
Since he arrived in the fall of 2019, Rozier’s role as a Hornet has constantly evolved. That’s likely not over, with this team still finding the best use of gifted rookie LaMelo Ball. Each time coach James Borrego asks, Rozier adapts with stoic good humor.
It was illustrative Friday morning when Rozier was asked if he’d have a problem coming off the bench in his return from an ankle sprain.
“I’ll be OK with anything,” Rozier replied.
On Sunday, Rozier was tremendous in a 119-97 blowout of the Washington Wizards. He scored 26 points and made 5-of-9 3-point attempts. He had primary responsibility for guarding Bradley Beal, the NBA’s leading scorer at 33.3 points per game.
Beal scored 31, but the Wizards were down 17 at halftime. Rozier was a big factor in making this game easy to win.
“Handling himself in a very professional manner,” Borrego said of Rozier’s second Charlotte season. “Came back better, came back more aggressive.”
When Rozier agreed to leave the Boston Celtics for the Hornets, there was much scrutiny of his three-year, $56.7 million contract. Could he possibly be worth about $19 million per season?
It got more complicated when Devonte Graham had a breakout season. That shifted Rozier from the point to shooting guard. He was solid last season, averaging 18 points and four assists, and was becoming one of the NBA’s better spot-up shooters.
But Rozier expected more of himself, partially in ways that don’t show on a box score. He said in the offseason he had to speak up more, lead more, set an example for a team that is young and changing with the additions of Ball and free agent Gordon Hayward.
That’s precisely what he has done. In a league that with too many “me-first” attitudes, Rozier places the team’s priorities above his own. Combined with the versatility to play multiple positions, that’s an attractive profile.
“Whatever my team, my coaches, need me to do, I just do,” Rozier said. “As long as it’s for the better of the team.”
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MORE CHANGE COMING
Rozier reminds me some of ex-Hornet Marvin Williams in how he processes change. Williams went from being a small forward to a power forward to a sometimes small-ball center. That was a big factor in Williams lasting 15 NBA seasons before retiring last spring.
Rozier’s versatility, combined with his mature acceptance of change, will extend his career, whether here or elsewhere.
Borrego is still figuring how to get the best from Ball, Graham and Rozier. With Rozier and Graham each missing time with injuries lately, it’s been easy to keep Ball in the starting lineup. Juggling this when all three are healthy is a bit more complicated.
I don’t think the three-guard lineup Borrego tried Friday against the Jazz is a long-term starter solution. One of these guys would have to come off the bench, and I don’t see that being Ball, whose development is central to the Hornets’ future.
I think Rozier is suited, both in skill set and attitude, to be this team’s sixth man. He won’t be insulted if Borrego asks him, and Rozier’s multi-positional ability blends well with that job.
That seems like the best option this season. After that, I won’t be surprised if general manager Mitch Kupchak assesses Rozier’s trade value entering the final season of that contract.
Either way, Rozier has embellished his resume. Coaches love gamers and they love grown-ups.
Rozier is certainly both of those.
