Terry Rozier Heat Contract Buyout Talks Reportedly 'Have Not Gained Traction'
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is under contract for just one more season, and the team has reportedly discussed buying him out in talks that "have not gained traction."
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Monday "there have been discussions about a Rozier buyout, but those talks have not gained traction, without any outside options for the veteran guard at the moment, as Rozier remains linked to a federal gambling investigation."
Winderman explained the Heat could waive Rozier ahead of the NBA contract guarantee deadline of Jan. 10 to create additional financial flexibility, although that comes with some risk since the $26.6 million he's owed would become fully guaranteed if he's injured and sidelined for the season before such a move.
This update comes with Rozier under federal investigation as part of a government probe into gambling activities.
The NBA released a statement on Jan. 30 confirming it conducted an investigation in 2023 and was also aware of an ongoing investigation involving the government.
"In March 2023, the NBA was alerted to unusual betting activity related to Terry Rozier's performance in a game between Charlotte and New Orleans," NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said. "The league conducted an investigation and did not find a violation of NBA rules. We are now aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York related to this matter and have been cooperating with that investigation."
NBA insider Chris Haynes also reported in July that "Rozier has not been cleared of any wrongdoing and remains under federal investigation on a potential gambling probe."
That update came after ESPN's Shams Charania reported in June that the U.S. District Attorney's office opened an investigation into Malik Beasley regarding "allegations of gambling related to NBA games and prop bets."
Beasley played for the Detroit Pistons during the 2024-25 season ahead of free agnecy, and Charania reported their contract negotiations were put on "pause" following the start of the investigation.
However, Beasley's attorneys, Steve Haney and Mike Schachter, told Charania in August the guard was no longer a target of the investigation.
The NBA notably announced in April 2024 that it banned Jontay Porter from the league for life because he violated gambling rules.
The NBA's statement said Porter was responsible for "disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes and betting on NBA games."
The league also said its investigation "found that Porter limited his own game participation to influence the outcome of one or more bets on his performance in at least one Raptors game."
Porter, who is the brother of Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., was never more than a secondary role player for the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies during his career.
By comparison, Rozier is a veteran guard who is well known among NBA fans.
He entered the league as a first-round draft pick in 2015 and has played for the Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Heat during his career. He averaged better than 20 points per game in two different seasons with the Hornets (2020-21 and 2022-23) and has appeared in 50 playoff games during his career.
Rozier appeared in 64 games for the Heat during the 2024-25 season and averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists a night while shooting 39.1 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from deep.
