Charlotte Hornets point guard Terry Rozier found himself celebrating soon before the start of free agency, waking up to a call about from his agent saying the New York Knicks had made a substantial offer, soon celebrating the possibility of making The Big Apple his new home. But that feeling wouldn't last long, as the Phoenix Suns would ante up that offer, giving him a lot to think about.
Ultimately, it was owner Michael Jordan who gave general manager Mitch Kupchak the green light to pull the trigger on an offer Rozier couldn't refuse, according to Jonathan Abrams of Bleacher Report.
“Mike was overseas, and I can just picture him probably having a cigar in his mouth and the words he told Mitch [Kupchak], the GM, was like: ‘Get him over here. Do what you need to do to get him over here,'” said Rozier.
“I'd be a fool if I was to go anywhere else or turn down that,” he said. “I look at it as just a team, organization believing in me. Knowing that I want to prove myself in this league and giving me that chance is bigger than anything and [their willingness] to pay me a right amount of money, it was just big and the guy that was behind all that was Michael Jordan. It's still surreal to me.”
The Hornets were consequently able to snatch Rozier in a sign-and-trade that sent their homegrown talent Kemba Walker to the Boston Celtics as a replacement for Kyrie Irving, as Rozier cashed in with a three-year, $58 million deal.
The Knicks reportedly were interested in a short-term deal, and it was likely the Suns were too before Jordan came in with pockets full and his classic charm to seal the deal.
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