Terry Rozier keeps salary amid gambling probe

Terry Rozier will keep receiving his $26.6 million salary while on administrative leave from the Miami Heat following his arrest on federal gambling charges, as allowed under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.

Players on leave remain ineligible to play but continue to be paid until the league determines whether rules were violated.

Rozier was arrested Thursday morning alongside Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups in a federal probe into illegal gambling and insider betting.

He was arraigned later that day and released on $6 million bond. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, each carrying up to 20 years in prison.

According to the CBA, Rozier’s $24.9 million guaranteed salary will continue until commissioner Adam Silver decides if he breached league integrity rules.

The Uniform Player Contract gives Silver the power to suspend or ban players for gambling or sharing inside information, which would immediately terminate Rozier’s pay and remove his contract from Miami’s payroll.

Federal prosecutors allege Rozier told his friend Deniro Laster he would fake an injury and leave a March 2023 game early. Laster allegedly sold the tip to bettors, who profited when Rozier exited in the first quarter.

The indictment claims the player later shared in the winnings.

Rozier’s attorney, Jim Trusty, defended his client, saying, “Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case.”