Miami Heat Cut Ties with Terry Rozier Following Federal Gambling Allegations
The Miami Heat have officially waived guard Terry Rozier, a move that marks the final act of a season severely disrupted by federal gambling charges. This procedural decision, announced on Friday, 10 April 2026, allows the team to sign another player before the postseason begins.
Rozier's Arrest and Team Response
Terry Rozier was arrested by federal officials on the morning of 23 October 2025, following the Heat's season opener in Orlando, where he did not play. He faces charges related to allegedly providing information to help individuals win bets on his statistical performance in a 2023 game while he was with the Charlotte Hornets. The NBA placed Rozier on leave shortly after his arrest, and he has collected his full $26.6 million salary this season, despite the legal proceedings.
The Heat had been paying his salary into an interest-bearing account initially, but an arbitrator later ruled that Rozier should receive the funds. Miami traded for Rozier in January 2024, unaware of the ongoing gambling investigation, sending Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick to Charlotte. In a rare move last month, the Hornets gave Miami a second-round pick in this year's draft, presumably to resolve disputes over undisclosed information at the time of the trade.
Roster Implications and Postseason Preparations
With the waiver, Miami has until Sunday to sign another player as they prepare for the play-in tournament, scheduled to start on Tuesday or Wednesday. Teams had until 5 p.m. on Friday to waive players with expiring contracts or team options for next season. Throughout the season, the Heat listed Rozier on injury reports as "not with team," and his nameplate remained in the locker room, symbolizing his absence.
It is unclear how much contact Rozier has had with the Heat since his arrest. He reportedly sent celebratory texts to some in the organization after Bam Adebayo's 83-point game against Washington but has not been involved with the team in any capacity since October. Rozier was in the final year of his four-year, $96.2 million contract.
Background on the Gambling Investigation
The NBA was alerted to unusual prop bet activity surrounding Rozier's performance in a game on 23 March 2023, when he played for Charlotte against the New Orleans Pelicans. Sportsbooks flagged the activity that afternoon, but a league probe at the time found no reason to prevent him from playing. In that game, Rozier started and played 9.5 minutes, recording five points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal before citing foot pain as his reason for not returning.
Rozier has averaged 13.9 points per game over his career, which includes stints with the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets before joining Miami. He appeared in 95 games with the Heat, but this season was cut short due to the legal issues.
