Terry Rozier will continue receiving his $26.6 million salary while on leave following his Thursday arrest on federal gambling charges, per NBA collective bargaining agreement provisions. The league must determine whether Rozier violated rules before deciding on potential suspension or ban, which would terminate his payments from the Miami Heat immediately.
Rozier was arrested Thursday morning alongside Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups as part of a federal gambling probe. He was arraigned in federal court and released on $6 million bond hours after appearing on Miami’s bench for Wednesday’s season opener.
The 30-year-old faces conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering charges. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
According to Exhibit F-7 of the NBA collective bargaining agreement, players on administrative leave remain ineligible to play but continue receiving salary and welfare benefits. Rozier’s $24.9 million guaranteed salary will be paid until Adam Silver determines whether league rules were violated.
The Uniform Player Contract gives Silver authority to suspend or ban players found betting on NBA games. The NBA Operations Manual also prohibits sharing inside information with gamblers.
If banned, Rozier’s payments would cease immediately and his contract would be removed from Miami’s payroll. The Heat currently sit $1.6 million below the luxury tax with a $186 million payroll, according to Spotrac.
Federal authorities alleged Rozier told childhood friend Deniro Laster he would fake an injury and exit a March 2023 game against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first quarter. Laster sold the information to conspirators who bet under on Rozier’s statistics, according to the indictment.
Rozier removed himself from the game in the first quarter, allowing bets to win. He later shared winnings with Laster, prosecutors allege.
Silver banned Jontay Porter in April 2024, three months before Porter pled guilty in the same scheme. Rozier was previously cleared by an NBA investigation before federal authorities filed charges.
“Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case,” attorney Jim Trusty said in a statement.