Terry Rozier
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The Miami Heat have to make a decision on Terry Rozier ahead of January 7.
The saga between the Miami Heat and Terry Rozier could be coming to a close.
NBA teams must waive players on non-guaranteed salaries by January 7 if they want to avoid paying their full season salary. NBA insider Bobby Marks weighed in on what this deadline means for the Heat and Rozier.
“He has a $26.6M contract, $1.7M is not guaranteed,” Marks said. “When you look at it from Miami’s perspective, I think we’ll have an idea if the Rozier contract will be in play at the deadline, or if it’s better off basically cutting him now if there is uncertainty if you can’t use that.”
“Because even if it’s $1.7M in cap relief, Miami is $1.6M under the luxury tax right now. You add that it’ll be $3.3M below the tax. That gets you two players to go out and sign to fill out your roster. Maybe it’s a buyout guy or a trade out there that makes sense because Miami has some trade exceptions also.”
The Rozier situation has essentially limited the Heat’s ability to improve its roster. $26.6M is tied up going towards a player who can’t play while on a league-mandated leave of absence.
What Course of Action is the Miami Heat Going to Take?
Pat Riley
GettyPat Riley and the Miami Heat have a decision to make on Terry Rozier’s future.
The Miami Heat are unlikely to waive Terry Rozier before the January 7 deadline, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
While waiving Rozier would bring the Heat cap relief ahead of the deadline, the Heat wouldn’t be able to use him in a potential trade.
While it’s unclear if the NBA will allow the Heat to trade Rozier ahead of the February 5 NBA trade deadline, the expectation is that the team will be able to move him.
Rozier is a valuable piece in a potential trade for the Heat because the $26.6M he’s owed could help balance the salary-cap math, while providing a potential team with an expiring contract.
The Heat will push for an immediate answer from the league office if Rozier’s name is brought up as part of a trade, according to Chiang.
How did the Miami Heat end up in This Situation?
Terry Rozier
GettyThe Miami Heat traded for Terry Rozier, sending the Charlotte Hornets a first-round pick.
The NBA investigated Rozier after being alerted to unusual betting activity following a game against the New Orleans Pelicans in March 2023, when Rozier left early while citing a foot issue.
After the investigation, the Miami Heat traded for Terry Rozier in January 2024, sending the Charlotte Hornets Kyle Lowry and a first-round pick.
While the NBA cleared Rozier in their investigation, he was later arrested as part of a federal investigation into illegal sports betting.
Neither the NBA nor the Hornets made the Heat aware of the investigation into Rozier.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver previously said there would be relief given to the Heat over the situation.
While it’s unlikely the Heat will be given their first-round draft pick back, the NBA may either give the team salary relief or allow the Heat to trade Rozier.