Arbitrator Rules Rozier Forfeits Most of $26.6 Million Salary

An arbitrator ruled that NBA free agent Terry Rozier violated his contract with the Miami Heat, requiring him to forfeit most of his $26.6 million salary for the 2025-26 season. The ruling, issued in late May, found that pretrial release conditions in a federal gambling case prevented Rozier from fulfilling his contractual obligations to the team.

Those conditions barred contact with Heat and Charlotte Hornets personnel and imposed travel restrictions.

was charged in October with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Last week, prosecutors added charges of sports bribery and honest services wire fraud conspiracy. The superseding indictment alleges Rozier accepted a $100,000 bribe to inform bettors he would exit a March 2023 game early due to injury while playing for the Hornets.

Rozier has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to be arraigned next week.

Contract and arbitration Earlier this year, the arbitrator ordered the Heat to pay Rozier his full salary after determining the league could not place him on unpaid leave. The team stopped payments shortly afterward, leading to a second arbitration round in early April.

Rozier’s attorney filed a motion Wednesday asking a federal judge to remove Hornets personnel from the no-contact list. The filing states that the current restrictions could prevent Rozier from signing with any NBA team during free agency this month.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment on the request.