The future status of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier continues to be one of the most tenuous situations in the NBA.
Rozier was arrested last October on wire fraud and money laundering charges after he allegedly gave confidential injury information to sports gamblers. He plead not guilty to the charges last month and was handed an indefinite suspension by the league.
Rozier is still under contract with the Heat, who have until Wednesday to waive him before his salary becomes fully guaranteed. But the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang reported that league sources aren't expecting Miami to cut him.
"As of Tuesday morning, it’s unlikely that the Heat will waive Rozier before Wednesday’s deadline, according to a league source," Chiang said. "But the Heat also hasn’t yet completely ruled out cutting Rozier before his full salary becomes guaranteed."
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Miami acquired Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets in Jan. 2024 for Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick. The pick is lottery-protected in 2027 and becomes unprotected in 2028.
The Heat could keep Rozier to use him in a deal ahead of February's trade deadline. Any trade involving him would likely require additional approval from the league due to his suspension and legal issues. He's under contract with the Heat through next season.
"Not only could Rozier’s $26.6 million salary help balance the salary-cap math in a trade, but it also could be attractive to a team because it’s an expiring salary that will come off the books this upcoming offseason."
Miami would open up a roster spot and cap space if it parts ways with him.
"Waiving Rozier would open a second roster spot and give the Heat the ability to immediately add two players to standard contracts for the rest of the season without entering luxury tax territory."
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