NBA Guard Terry Rozier Will Not Receive Salary While on Leave
The Miami Heat has ceased paying guard Terry Rozier while he is on leave from the team following his arrest on federal charges related to a sports betting scheme, according to sources familiar with the situation. The decision to withhold salary comes as the NBA and federal authorities continue to investigate the scope of the alleged gambling operation.
Rozier, who was acquired by the Heat in a high-profile trade, has been placed on leave as the legal process unfolds. This move by the Heat is standard practice under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) when a player is unavailable due to serious legal issues.
Financial Consequences Under the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement
When a professional athlete faces criminal charges or is suspended by the league, the financial obligations of the team often change dramatically. While the specific terms of Rozier’s contract are private, the NBA CBA grants teams significant latitude to stop salary payments under specific conditions.
Conditions for Withholding Pay
Typically, a team can withhold a player’s salary if their unavailability is due to:
- A suspension imposed by the NBA Commissioner.
- A failure to render services due to legal issues, including incarceration or being placed on administrative leave pending investigation into serious misconduct.
- Breach of contract terms relating to conduct detrimental to the team or the league.
Because Rozier’s leave is directly tied to his arrest on federal charges—a matter that involves the integrity of the game through alleged sports betting—the Heat is within its rights to halt compensation. This decision ensures the team is not paying a substantial salary to a player who cannot perform his duties due to external legal entanglements.
Rozier’s contract carries a significant financial commitment, making the stoppage a major development for both the player and the franchise’s immediate cap space planning.
Separate Financial Matter: The Resolved $1.3 Million Tax Lien
In a related but separate financial development, Rozier’s legal team confirmed that a substantial federal tax lien against the player has been fully resolved. The lien, which was filed in 2023 in North Carolina, amounted to approximately $1.3 million.
Rozier’s attorney confirmed that the tax lien has been “resolved and satisfied.” While the existence of the lien added to the scrutiny of Rozier’s financial affairs, its resolution indicates that this specific debt to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is no longer outstanding.
It is crucial to distinguish these two issues:
- The Salary Stoppage: Directly related to the ongoing federal investigation and charges concerning the gambling scheme.
- The Tax Lien: A separate financial liability from 2023 that has since been settled.
The Broader Context of Federal Sports Betting Investigations
The charges against Rozier stem from a wider federal investigation into illegal sports betting activities, a sensitive area for the NBA given the league’s increasing reliance on legal sports betting partnerships and the paramount importance of maintaining game integrity.
This incident is one of several high-profile cases involving professional athletes and gambling issues in recent years, highlighting the intense scrutiny placed on players’ off-court activities, especially those that could potentially compromise competitive fairness.
The NBA has historically taken a zero-tolerance approach to players involved in betting on league games, though the specifics of Rozier’s alleged involvement in the scheme have not been fully detailed in public statements by the Heat or the league.
“The league and its teams must prioritize maintaining the integrity of the competition above all else. Any involvement in illegal gambling schemes, regardless of the player’s role, triggers immediate and severe consequences under the CBA,” stated an anonymous league source.
Key Takeaways for the Heat and Rozier
For the Miami Heat, the absence of Rozier, a key offensive contributor, presents an immediate challenge to their roster planning. However, the salary stoppage provides some financial relief, potentially freeing up cap space or trade flexibility, depending on the eventual outcome of the legal proceedings.
For Rozier, the immediate focus shifts entirely to resolving the federal charges. The salary halt is a significant financial blow, underscoring the severity of the charges he faces.
Summary of the Situation
- Salary Status: Rozier is not receiving his salary from the Miami Heat while on leave.
- Reason for Leave: Arrest on federal charges related to a sports betting scheme.
- Tax Lien: A separate $1.3 million federal tax lien from 2023 has been resolved and satisfied.
- Team Action: The Heat is acting within the bounds of the NBA CBA to withhold pay due to the player’s legal unavailability.
What Comes Next
The next steps depend heavily on the progress of the federal investigation and the subsequent legal proceedings. The Miami Heat and the NBA are expected to monitor the situation closely, awaiting clarity on the charges before making any long-term decisions regarding Rozier’s contract status.
If the league determines that Rozier violated NBA rules, he could face a substantial suspension or even termination of his contract, independent of the outcome of the criminal case. The resolution of the tax lien, while positive for Rozier’s personal finances, does not mitigate the severity of the federal gambling charges that led to the current salary stoppage.
Original author: Tim Reynolds
Originally published: October 29, 2025
Editorial note: Our team reviewed and enhanced this coverage with AI-assisted tools and human editing to add helpful context while preserving verified facts and quotations from the original source.
We encourage you to consult the publisher above for the complete report and to reach out if you spot inaccuracies or compliance concerns.
