The Miami Heat will receive a 2026 second-round pick from the Charlotte Hornets to resolve a dispute stemming from the January 2024 trade of Terry Rozier, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.
According to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, the pick will be the more favorable of either the Golden State Warriors’ or Denver Nuggets’ second-round selections owed to Charlotte.
Rozier has been on indefinite leave since October 2025 following his federal indictment in a sports gambling scheme. An arbitrator ruled on February 2, that the NBA cannot place him on unpaid leave under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, requiring the Heat to pay his full $26.6 million salary for the 2025-26 season.
The ruling, supported by the National Basketball Players Association, reaffirmed the presumption of innocence. Rozier remains on Miami’s roster but is ineligible to play, and his salary continues to count against the team’s luxury tax. Any trade or release would require additional league approval.
Miami reportedly was unaware of Rozier’s alleged gambling activity at the time of the trade, which occurred months after the incident while he was still a Hornets player. The pick from Charlotte serves as compensation for the unforeseen complications arising from the legal situation.
On the court, the Heat maintain a 36-29 record, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference. Norman Powell leads the team with 22.5 points per game, while Tyler Herro averages 22.1 points and 4.6 assists. Bam Adebayo continues to anchor the frontcourt with 18.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest.
Miami’s roster also features Andrew Wiggins, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware contributing across scoring, defense, and rebounding.
