標籤: Rozier

The Miami Heat are finally ready to close the book on the Terry Rozier era. After a season defined more by legit headlines than highlights, Miami is expected to waive the veteran guard before the NBA playoffs begin. The move is intended to clear a roster spot for the postseason, allowing Pat Riley and the front office to add depth or convert a two-way contract once the regular season ends.

Terry Rozier has not played a single minute for the Heat this season. His absence began after October 1. 23 arrests related to federal investigation of illegal gambling. While he remained on the roster as a potential trade chip, his expiring $26.6 million contract found no taker before the February deadline. With the team now holding a 38–31 record and fighting for position in the crowded Eastern Conference, Miami has decided it is time to move on.

The veteran guard must clear waivers before the regular season ends on April 12, meaning the Heat will likely make the move official by April 9. Last season, Rozier averaged 10.6 points and 2.6 assists in 64 games for Miami, but his production dropped significantly after a trade to the Charlotte Hornets.

In his absence, players like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo have carried the load. Herro is currently averaging 21.4 points per game, while Adebayo has been a force in the paint with 20.0 points and nearly 10 rebounds a night. The Heat recently lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in a hard-fought game, highlighting the need for a final, cohesive roster to advance to the play-in or playoff rounds.

Waiver of Rozier potentially opens up a seat for contributors like Pelle Larsson or Keishad Johnson to join the standard roster. While the gambling case continues in court, the Heat have focused on the court, opting for playoff flexibility rather than a roster spot that has been unused for months.

As the Miami Heat are dealing with an upcoming make-or-break week with the start of the season home stretch, there is a big update regarding the situation with Terry Rozier. Since this has been an unprecedented situation with the Heat and Rozier, there are many who believe the team should receive compensation, and that’s what happened on Monday.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Charlotte Hornets are giving Miami a second-round pick in 2026 to “resolve a dispute” over the position with Rozier. The Heat traded Kyle Lowry for Rozier in the first round on January 23, 2024, before that season’s trade deadline.

Charania, formerly of the

Although this appears to be the resolution of the dispute, Rozier is still on Miami’s books as his status continues to come to light after being arrested by the federal government due to gambling ties at the beginning of the season. According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, this would be “more favorable”, considering a second-round pick.

“The 2026 second-round selection the Heat will receive from the Hornets is more favorable to Golden State and Denver’s second-round selections,” Chiang wrote.

No lawsuit from the Heat was ever planned

While there were rumors about the Heat and Rozier as to what the next step would be for the team, there was some speculation about whether the team would file a lawsuit. Mostly, due to the league and Charlotte reportedly not telling Miami about possible gambling connections, the NBA conducted its own investigation of Rozier while he was with Charlotte.

However, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald would say that “Lawsuit was never an option” and that the second-round pick is “the final development on the case”.

Jackson further stated, “The Hornets never told the Heat that they knew Rozier was under investigation at the time of the trade, but there was no specific NBA rule against it.” “The Heat will send a lottery-protected first-rounder in 2027 to the Hornets. If the Heat miss the playoffs next season, Miami will retain its 2027 first-rounder and send a 2028 first-rounder to Charlotte.”

At any rate, the Heat are focused on extending their five-game winning streak with next Tuesday’s game against the Washington Wizards.