The Miami Heat are having a strong campaign despite one of their more well-known players being away from the team for the entire season. In Oct., guard Terry Rozier was arrested due to being connected to a federal illegal sports gambling conspiracy and betting schemes. Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was also involved in this scheme. Rozier pleaded not guilty to the charges and the NBA opened an investigation into the alleged wrongdoings.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Monday that the Charlotte Hornets are sending a second-round draft pick in the upcoming draft. The Hornets traded Rozier to the Heat in Jan. 2024 for a 2027 first-round pick and Kyle Lowry. However, before the trade even occurred, Rozier was being investigated due to leaving a game early in March 2023.
On a recent episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, there was a conversation regarding whether or not the second-round pick was enough compensation to receive.
"The Hornets are just giving the Heat a second-round pick," one host said. "So if something wrong happened, why isn't the NBA stepping in and giving the Heat their pick back?"
Before joining Miami, Rozier was having a strong season as a scorer. He averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from three-point range in his final 30 games with Charlotte. However, Rozier's tenure in Miami was not as prolific. The veteran was brought in to spark the offense and while his splits declined for the second half of the 2023-24 season with Miami, he still put up decent numbers and was a solid addition to the rotation.
"Why does there need to be a solution if nothing happened," the host continued. Did something wrong happen? Because if something wrong happened, the Heat should have their pick back."
The 2024-25 season was the worst of Rozier's career. While he began the season as the team's starting point guard, his numbers quickly plummeted and he took a back seat while teammate Tyler Herro was putting up the best numbers of his career. Rozier was relegated to a bench role by the half-way mark of the regular season before becoming somewhat of an afterthought in the rotation.
It is still unknown how the Rozier situation will play out legally but it's safe to say some Heat fans are not thrilled by the supposed low level of compensation.
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