NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has confirmed the league will investigate potential avenues to provide the Miami Heat with financial relief, as guard Terry Rozier remains on unpaid leave facing serious federal gambling charges.
An Unprecedented Salary Cap Dilemma
Speaking on Tuesday, Silver described the situation as "unprecedented" and acknowledged the significant burden placed on the Heat. Terry Rozier's $26.6 million salary accounts for approximately 17% of Miami's total salary cap, yet the player is not permitted to perform services for the team. His salary, while not being paid to him, is still counted against the cap and is currently being held in an interest-bearing account pending the outcome of his legal case.
"We're going to try to work something through, work this out with them," Silver stated. "But there’s no obvious solution here. I would just say that there’s no doubt at the moment they have a player that can't perform services for them." The Commissioner stopped short of guaranteeing a solution would be found but emphasised the league's willingness to seek a "unique solution" for a unique problem.
The Federal Charges Against Rozier and Others
The complexity for Miami is compounded by the fact they still owe the Charlotte Hornets a first-round pick in either 2027 or 2028 from the trade that originally brought Rozier to the franchise. Rozier pleaded not guilty earlier this month to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Federal prosecutors allege that in March 2023, while still a Charlotte Hornet, Rozier conspired with friends to help them win bets based on his statistical performance. He is accused of informing the bettors he would leave a game against the New Orleans Pelicans early, citing a fake injury. Rozier played just nine minutes and 36 seconds before exiting the contest with a cited foot issue. He did not play again that season.
Rozier, who is free on a $3 million bond, is not expected back in court until March. The case is part of a wider federal crackdown on illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports, which also ensnared Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and former NBA guard Damon Jones. Billups has pleaded not guilty to charges related to an alleged scheme to fix Mafia-backed poker games.
Searching for a Resolution
Commissioner Silver admitted the league is uncertain how long the various legal processes will take to reach a conclusion. With Rozier's massive salary cap hit effectively freezing a large portion of Miami's financial flexibility, the Heat's ability to competitively build their roster is severely hampered.
"Obviously, he hasn’t been convicted of anything yet either — but this is an unfortunate circumstance," Silver said. The league's exploration of "satisfactory relief" indicates a recognition of the exceptional hardship faced by the Heat, setting a potential precedent for how professional sports leagues handle similar contract impasses arising from serious off-court legal matters.
