By waiving Terry Rozier now, the Miami Heat opens up a crucial roster spot, allowing them to add a fresh contributor before the playoff eligibility deadline on Sunday. Insiders suggest that waiving Terry Rozier is as much about protecting the 'Heat Culture' and compliance standards as it is about managing the team's luxury tax. Terry Rozier has not appeared in a single game for the Miami Heat this season.
Terry Rozier was placed on an indefinite, unpaid leave by the NBA in October after a federal indictment. He was among more than 30 individuals arrested by the FBI as part of a massive investigation into alleged illegal sports-gambling activity. Terry Rozier has pleaded not guilty to charges he is facing.
The arrest stems from Terry Rozier's alleged actions during a 2023 game against the New Orleans Pelicans, while he was still a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Federal investigators allege that a bettor placed a substantial $14,000 bet on Terry Rozier's 'unders' just moments before the game was scheduled to tip off. Terry Rozier subsequently left that contest after playing only nine minutes, citing a foot injury, a move that allowed the suspicious wagers to pay out in full.
The FBI further alleged that Terry Rozier tipped off a friend, Deniro Laster, who then reportedly sold that insider information to other bettors for roughly $100,000. The Miami Heat acquired Terry Rozier in a high-profile trade from Charlotte in January 2024 for a first-round pick. Miami was unaware of the federal and NBA investigations into Terry Rozier at the time the trade was finalized with the Charlotte Hornets' front office.
As a result of the oversight, the Charlotte Hornets reportedly agreed to provide the Miami Heat with a future second-round draft pick as a form of compensation for the fallout.