Heat keep Terry Rozier

Jan 8, 2026 1:35 AM

The Miami Heat opted not to waive Terry Rozier before Wednesday’s deadline, a decision that guarantees his full cap hit for the 2025/26 season.

Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press reported that Miami passed on the chance to save a little more than $1.7 million and open an additional roster spot by releasing the veteran guard.

Rozier has been inactive since October after being placed on league leave following his arrest on federal gambling charges, but Miami still chose to keep him on the books.

The move signals that the Heat value the flexibility of retaining his expiring contract, which could be useful as a salary-matching piece in a future trade.

While the NBA has not formally stated whether such a deal would be approved, the Heat are reportedly confident it would not be blocked.

Although his salary is now fully guaranteed, Rozier is not currently being paid. The NBA is holding his money in an escrow-style account while he remains on leave, a situation the Players Association is contesting, with a ruling expected later this month.

Around the league, teams largely avoided cuts ahead of the guarantee deadline.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted that no players on standard non-guaranteed contracts were waived Wednesday, with only a handful of two-way players, including Mark Sears, Malik Williams, and Tosan Evbuomwan, being released.