Trade Proposal Sends Collin Sexton, Walker Kessler To Heat, Terry Rozier, Nikola Jovic To Jazz

One NBA analyst proposed that the Miami Heat trade Terry Rozier and Nikola Jovic to the Utah Jazz for Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler. 

Ishaan Bhattacharya of Fadeaway World proposed the following mock trade between the Heat and Jazz:

Miami Heat Receive: Collin Sexton, Walker Kessler

Utah Jazz Receive: Terry Rozier, Nikola Jovic, 2028 First-Round Pick Swap (MIA), 2029 First-Round Pick (MIA)

Sexton averaged 18.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 48.7% from the field, 39.4% from beyond the arc and 85.9% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $18.4 million next season. 

Kessler averaged 8.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 steals and 2.4 blocks while shooting 65.4% from the field, 21.1% from beyond the arc and 60.2% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $2.9 million next season. 

The Jazz are open to trading Sexton and Kessler for the right price, NBA sources told Hoops Wire.

Rozier played for the Charlotte Hornets and Heat this past season. He averaged 19.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 44.3% from the field, 36.3% from beyond the arc and 86.9% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $24.9 million next season. 

Jovic averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks while shooting 45.2% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 70.2% from the free-throw line. He’ll make $2.5 million next season. 

“Trading away the rights to two picks and a 21-year-old for two players who can contribute instantly doesn’t seem that bad a deal,” Bhattacharya wrote in his NBA trade column. “Given one of the picks is a swap, the Heat would still have a pick in that Draft. If they’re good, it likely won’t convey, with players like Sexton and Jazz young enough to remain competent four years from now. 

“There would be concerns about the fit but we’ve seen Bam Adebayo thrive as a four-man for Team USA, showing the rapid improvements he’s made in his shooting stroke. He doesn’t need to be a sniper, but the Heat have the pieces to run Kessler-Adebayo lineups with Bam flashing out to the three-point line. Defensively, it covers up Adebayo’s only weakness, which is vertical rim protection. That’s Kessler’s forte, with his lack of mobility being covered phenomenally by Adebayo.

“The Jazz get a valuable young piece and two picks for players with questionable trade value. Rozier could lead to further assets down the line for the franchise, which could add more value to this deal. The Heat need to commit to a direction rather than waiting out whatever happens with Jimmy Butler. Even if he thinks about leaving at the end of the year, these players create more of a structure the Heat can rely upon beyond Butler’s departure.”