The Miami Heat chose on Wednesday to retain guard Terry Rozier, allowing his entire $26.64 million salary for the 2025-26 season to become guaranteed.
Rozier’s contract had previously carried a partial guarantee of roughly $24.9 million. Had Miami waived him before the league’s guarantee deadline, the club would have saved about $1.7 million in cap space, created a second open roster slot, and gained the ability to add two players without surpassing the luxury-tax threshold.
Despite that potential relief, the Heat decided to keep Rozier, who has been away from the team since October after an arrest on federal gambling charges led to a league-imposed leave. Retaining the veteran guard preserves his expiring contract as a sizable salary-matching asset should Miami pursue a trade. While the NBA has not formally confirmed whether Rozier can be included in a deal, team officials reportedly believe a trade involving him would not be blocked.
Although his cap figure is now locked in, Rozier is not currently drawing his pay; the NBA is holding the money in an escrow-style account during his leave. The National Basketball Players Association has filed a grievance challenging that arrangement, with a ruling expected later this month.
Rozier was not the only player to survive the deadline. ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that no one on a standard non-guaranteed contract was waived Wednesday. However, three two-way players—Mark Sears (Milwaukee Bucks), Malik Williams (Atlanta Hawks), and Tosan Evbuomwan (New York Knicks)—were released.
Source: Hoops Wire
