While all the talk of LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward’s arrival and the impact they had on the Hornets’ season is true, Terry Rozier was likely the MVP of the team this season. For the second straight season, Rozier set a career-high in scoring while his efficiency only continues to rise in the process.
More important than his scoring, in an injury-riddled season, Rozier played in all but three games this year for Charlotte and was a steadying force throughout the season. That he wore down at the end of the season given what was asked of him, it was expected even if disappointing and frustrating.
Now, with Rozier entering the final year of his contract, it opens up a load of possibilities for Charlotte.
Stat of the Season
3.
A simpler number in this review, but Rozier came into the season with one 40-point game in his career, that coming last season. On opening night, he matched that total with a career-high 42 points. Two months later, he scored 41 points in a win over Minnesota before breaking his career-high once more at season’s end with 43 points in a loss to New Orleans, his third 40-point game of the year.
Notable Exit Interview Quote
On the season…
“It’s been fun. I had a lot of fun. It’s been a long season. It’s been different than the usual. But it’s a lot of promising and things that that we showed and we saw. We’re only looking to grow and get better as a whole…It’s been very promising for us to move in the right direction. And there’s no need for us to really get down on how the season ended but (instead) just keep moving forward and make promises for us to have good steps going forward.”
Overview
As noted above, Rozier set the tone for his season in the opening game. Much of his impressive play to start the year was overshadowed by Hayward’s arrival and Ball’s rapid ascension.
But as the season entered the dog days, Rozier continued impressing. Perhaps his best stretch of the season featured the month of February, his best month of the year. From Feb. 7 until March 30, a span of 28 games, Rozier averaged 22.7 points on 48.7% shooting from the field, 41.3% shooting from the 3-point line and 92.7% from the free throw line.
As bodies fell around him, Rozier was the mainstay and that had a toll on him. In his exit interview, he was sporting a brace on his right wrist and a mysterious injury. While he noted it wasn’t serious, he was still sporting that brace in a recent video on Twitter.
That could explain his dropoff at the tail end of the season. Over the final 12 games, which included his 43-point performance, Rozier averaged 19.4 points but shot only 38.7% from the field and 32.3% from the 3-point line. Those figures also don’t include his 7-of-20 shooting performance in the play-in game, either.
But considering what was asked of him, it’s hard to fault Rozier for breaking down. And even then, he finished with a career-best 54.8% effective field goal percentage, 17.8 PER and 57.5% true shooting percentage.
Outlook
It’s hard to read all those career-best numbers from Rozier, take into account that he’s entering the final year of his contract and think anything other than an extension. But the Hornets are in a precarious situation this offseason.
Charlotte has a pair of guards entering restricted free agency in Devonte’ Graham and Malik Monk. How they value both of those guards will determine a lot of the Hornets’ offseason plans as well.
There’s also an argument to be made for selling high on Rozier. He’s coming off a career year, is on an expiring deal and would command a steep price from contenders. Is his value greater for Charlotte on the team or in what he brings back to them in a trade? He could be the catalyst in the team landing a starting center while bringing back Graham and/or Monk to fill his hole.
There’s another argument to be made to extend Rozier. Again, he’s coming off a career year, is close with Ball off the court and is a great complement to him on the court. At 26 years old, he’s in the prime of his career and the Hornets could lock him up through that.
It’s part of the long list of questions the Hornets will have to answer about Rozier and the team this season.
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