An independent arbitrator has ruled that the Miami Heat must pay Terry Rozier his full salary for the season, delivering a significant decision in a case that continues to hang over both the player and the league.
Rozier, who has not played at all this season, will receive his entire $26.6 million salary after the arbitrator determined that the NBA was not permitted to place him on unpaid leave.
The league made that move in October, shortly after Rozier was arrested and charged by federal prosecutors in connection with an alleged illegal gambling scheme tied to NBA games.
The National Basketball Players Association challenged the leagues action, filing a grievance that was heard by an arbitrator on December 17. The ruling sided with the union.
We are pleased with the arbitrators ruling and remain committed to ensuring that Terrys due process rights are protected and that he is afforded the presumption of innocence throughout this process, an NBPA spokesperson said Monday.
Rozier is facing two federal charges and has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege he told a friend he would leave a March 2023 game early while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, and that the information was then passed along to gamblers who placed prop bets using nonpublic details.
While the arbitration decision guarantees Roziers pay, it does not clarify his basketball future. He remains unable to play while his case proceeds through the courts, and his next federal court appearance in Brooklyn is expected in March.
NBA officials did not immediately respond to questions regarding his trade eligibility, and Adam Silver said in mid-December that no decision had yet been made.
Roziers attorney, Jim Trusty, framed the ruling as a broader statement about player rights.
Terry won today under principles of contract law and the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players, but the bigger principle at issue is the presumption of innocence, Trusty said. Todays arbitration ruling reminds the NBA that they cant ignore that important concept just because its a high-profile case.
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