As the agent who convinced the Charlotte Hornets to pay Terry Rozier $58 million over three years, Aaron Turner obviously is confident in his client.
But Rozier's agent still managed to raise eyebrows while talking up the former Boston Celtics point guard this week.
"People say, ‘Oh, Terry only shot this percentage,' " Turner told The Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach. "The Hornets are bringing him in to start. Look at his numbers as a starter.
"He’s right there with the elite, the [Mike] Conleys, the [Kyle] Lowrys. He’s not far behind Kyrie (Irving). He’s elite as a starter, and that’s what they’re bringing him in to do."
Celtics fans may be wondering which player Turner watched last season. Rozier averaged just 9.0 points and 2.9 assists per game and shot 38.7 percent from the floor as Irving's backup, which statistically puts him more in the company of Landry Shamet and Tomas Satoransky than proven talents like Conley and Lowry.
Of course, Turner argues Rozier is a much better player as a starter, and the numbers bear that out: The 25-year-old put up 14.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists over 30 regular-season starts in Boston and averaged 16.5 points per game during the 2017-18 playoffs with Irving sidelined.
Turner is convinced we'll see more of "Playoff Terry" in Charlotte, where Rozier is expected to fill Kemba Walker's point guard void.
"I think he’s going to flourish," Turner said. "I think he’s going to be Terry from the playoffs and more. I think in a year from now, people are going to be like, ‘I can’t believe the Hornets got Terry Rozier for the deal they got him for.’
Boston Celtics
"Right now, people are saying like ‘Wow, people paid that much for Terry?’ I think in a year, the narrative is going to be totally different."
Both Rozier's agent and Rozier himself have talked a big game about what's he capable of, and their confidence clearly paid off with his lucrative deal. But Rozier will have to seriously elevate his game to prevent Turner's hot take from going ice cold.
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