Terry Rozier live blog: What the veteran guard and Spoelstra are saying before Heat debut

We’re launching a live blog on new Heat guard Terry Rozier, who had a brief introductory news conference before he debuts for the Heat on Wednesday night against Memphis (7:30 p.m., Bally Sports Sun).

Rozier addressed several topics:

▪ On how excited he is to play for the Heat: “It’s been no secret how much love I have for the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade growing up. This is definitely a full circle moment. I’m happy to be back on that stage in a playoff race. It’s huge.”

He exchanged jerseys with Dwyane Wade years ago and said “it meant everything, just to get that opportunity to trade jerseys. I definitely still have the jersey. That’s not going anywhere.”

▪ On playing with three other players who are averaging 20 points per game, like him: “I’m not here to step on nobody’s toes. I want to be me. I want to help this team get over that hump. That’s what I want to do.”

The Heat is the only team with four players averaging at least 20 points per game (Rozier, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro).

▪ On Adebayo: “We are both competitors, definitely have that respect playing against each other. Pick and roll is going to be special. You have to pick your poison.”

▪ On his skill set: “I can add the toughness for sure. I’m definitely a guy that is not selfish. Want to look for myself myself and look for my teammates. Definitely just being part of the Heat culture, I think I fit right in. I’ll be ready to play right away.”

▪ On playing for Rick Pitino at Louisville: “It helped tremendously. I thank him every chance I get, definitely, on the court, off the court, ready to get my mind right to be ready for this stage. It’s huge.”

▪ On discussions with Erik Spoelstra: “Definitely want to take my time. Things are not going to be perfect right away. I feel like I fit the Heat culture and I’m coming right in, can come in [and help] on the defensive side. We’re basketball players. We will figure it out.”

SPOELSTRA’S TAKE

What Spoelstra said on Rozier’s addition:

▪ Overall: “We are really excited about it. We are thrilled about the addition of Terry. We think he can give us a needed boost in a very competitive Eastern Conference...

“Two months ago, you don’t really think about this or that a move like this could be possible. He has a lot of those competitive qualities that we respect and we think not only resonate with us but also impact winning in a big way. He’s a competitive guy. Winning matters to him. He respects our uniform. He really wanted to be here. Not everybody wants to play for us. So that matters. We want to have like-minded competitors that view competition in a very similar way.

“I always thought he was one of the most dangerous X-factors when he was playing for Boston. In my preps against Boston, we knew who there big players were. We always felt if Terry could have an impact on the game, you would have a hard time winning against Boston. He had some big playoff moments; that matters for us. In Charlotte, he really developed his game. He’s a lot better, particularly on the offensive end than when he left Boston. We can use some offense punch right now. He has personality and a game that can fit in. I don’t think he will try to step in and overpower anyone. He just wants to complement and talking to him, he just wants to be part of winning again and part of the playoffs and hopefully do some real special things in the playoffs.”

▪ On the Herro/Rozier backcourt: “Skill level is extremely high with both of these guys. Terry can play more naturally at the point. Tyler, his skill level, his ball handling, his play-making has improved so much.

“Terry knows how to play on the ball and he also knows how to play off the ball which is really important for our group. He’s had success doing both. This year, he had to do a lot more on the ball and it shows you what he’s capable of leading the attack.

“He’s fully comfortable adding his skill set, his play-making, his ball handling off the catch ability to what we have here. That makes us really dynamic with two uber skilled players. He wanted to make a a point of it too that he doesn’t have to be ball dominant. That shows a maturity.”

▪ More on Rozier: “He competed at a really high level coming into this league in the playoffs. When you are not in the playoffs, even if you are developing., as you game grows and you have more responsibilities.. the real competitors, that’s not enough for them. That’s how Terry felt. It felt empty. He just wants to get back into an environment where he can contribute and help a team win....

“He’s also aware he’s not going to come here in the same type of usage and everything he had in Charlotte. That’s one of the things I talked to him about and he was already like, ‘I understand. I want to contribute and help winning.’ That’s music to our ears.”

▪ As a defender, Spoelstra said: “First you have to have that competitiveness and that toughness. He checks both those boxes. It matters to him. He was part of some really tough defensive teams in Boston and he was able to guard three positions and really compete at a high level.

“He was coached by good defensive coaches, starting in college with Rick Pitino, Brad [Stevens], Steve [Clifford]. They demand a lot on the defensive end. He knows how important it is for us here. He has enough of a background over the course of his career that he’ll be able to impact that part of the floor. For whatever reason, people don’t view him as a defender. I found that strange; that’s how I viewed him. I think he’ll fit in very well in our system.”

▪ On Lowry: “Kyle, you can never define him by his stats. His whole career, and particularly as an ultimate winner, you define him by whether your team is winning and how it’s functioning. The first two years, the resume speaks for itself. Eastern Conference Finals and going to the Finals. He was a big part of both seasons....

“First year as a full time starter. If we didn’t have those six weeks playing at an extremely high level, we wouldn’t have had that No. 1 seed. Second year, to be able to handle coming off the bench and really starring in that role after that injury. Our second unit really struggled until he went into it. He basically fixed all of that.

“I really respect him and enjoy him as a human being. I’ll miss that. This is part of the business.... Sometimes you have to make a business decision. That’s what this was. He’ll be just fine. He’ll find his next stop,... whether it’s Charlotte or anywhere else.”

NEWS NOTE

Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. is out for Wednesday’s game because of a hamstring injury. It’s his fifth consecutive game sidelined.