The federal gambling investigation into Terry Rozier took a twist on Friday that could have the former Miami Heat guard potentially closer to an NBA return.
In a filing by his defense team, entered into evidence were a series of texts citing that those implicated with Rozier in the case involving his time with the Charlotte Hornets made explicit comment not to make Rozier aware of their gambling intentions on his statistics.
The case dates to before Rozier was acquired by the Heat in January 2024 in the trade that sent out guard Kyle Lowry and a first-round pick that is due to Charlotte in either 2027 or 2028.
If the request for dismissal is accepted, Rozier would stand as a free agent, eligible to sign with any NBA team.
Because the Heat waived Rozier in April, they no longer retain his Bird Rights, nor can the Heat include him in a potential sign-and-trade transaction.
The irony is Rozier is the type of playmaking scorer that the Heat currently lack on a roster overhauled by the trade for Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While the Heat, in theory, could offer Rozier a minimum-scale contract, sentiment already had been that the guard's diminished skills no longer meet the team's requirement.
Rozier, 32, currently is working with his second legal defense team. His previous defense team filed a dismissal motion that remains pending.
Should the case be dismissed, Rozier would receive his $26.6 million salary, a sum that already was factored into the Heat's standing last season against the salary cap, luxury tax and tax apron. Because of such hardship and not being made aware of the Rozier investigation by the Hornets, the Heat were awarded by the NBA a second-round pick from Charlotte that was utilized in June on Louisville guard Ryan Conwell.
Rozier was on the Heat's active roster only for last season's opening game, arrested in Orlando the morning after not playing in that season-opening loss to the Magic.
In the Friday filing, co-defendant Deniro Laster is cited as sending a text to a gambler instructing him not to inform Rozier of the wagers met on Rozier failing to meet certain statistical goals in a March 23, 2023 Hornets game.
"Dont tell chum bout the bet," Laster said in the message entered into evidence by Rozier's defense team. "Chum" is a Rozier nickname
"This should end the case," Rozier's defense team wrote in the legal filing. "One does not hide a bet from the person who supposedly sold it."
Prosecutors have countered that the text in question does not involve the issue of Rozier pulling himself out of that Charlotte game, and therefore having such "under" bets fail to cover.
Rozier's previous defense team had sought court relief to allow Rozier to resume contact with all NBA players and teams, with Rozier currently banned from contact with players from the Heat or Hornets.
Rozier put up his South Florida home as collateral for his bond, with his attorneys seeking to have the venue for the case moved from the Eastern District of New York to the Southern District of Florida, where Rozier resides.
Also implicated in the federal case was former Heat guard Damon Jones, along with former NBA players Malik Beasley and Ed Davis, son of former Heat center Terry Davis. Jones has pled guilty.
The trial involving Rozier is scheduled for Feb. 8, past the midpoint of the upcoming season.
Rozier initially was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with charges later added of bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy.
Friday's filing by Rozier's defense team included, "Terry Rozier is innocent. He is a basketball player, not a gambler. He never bet on anything, never agreed to underperform, never did underperform, and did not know that anyone was wagering on his statistics in the Charlotte Hornets' March 23, 2023, game."
