Poker Writer
Terry Rozier pleaded not guilty to new charges of sports bribery and wire fraud conspiracy linked to a scheme to defraud betting platforms with insider information. Rozier was given these new charges in late April, as they accused him of soliciting and accepting a bribe.
The alleged bribe was for $100,000 that he agreed to accept as a member of the Charlotte Hornets in 2023. Bettors required Rozier to have the unders in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier took himself out of the game after just 9 minutes of play to ensure the unders hit for bettors.
Rozier Wants to Play in NBA Again
One condition of Rozier’s bail was that he be barred from any contact with his former team or the NBA. Rozier and his lawyers want to eliminate that condition because they argue it prevents him from potentially playing for any other NBA team in the near future, which is vital for a 32-year-old’s dwindling career timeline. He last played in the NBA in April when he was waved by the Miami Heat.
Rozier’s attorney James Trusty used a basketball term to describe the NBA’s actions. He said the league has “flagrantly fouled” the presumption of innocence:
They should be ashamed of themselves. As you heard from the hearing today, they’re still trying to find ways to pretend they’re a victim and that Terry should be prohibited from playing basketball, at least practically speaking.
But prosecutors maintain that the Hornets and the NBA are victims of Rozier’s crimes and therefore do not want him to be actively seeking employment with another NBA franchise. They said that Rozier robbed the Hornets “of the intangible right of the honest and faithful services of Rozier through bribery and kickbacks”.
In May, an arbitrator ruled that Rozier must forfeit most of his $26.6 million salary from the Heat for violating his contract due to an alleged connection to the bribery scheme.
Miami Heat Compensation For Rozier
Several fans questioned which team in their right mind would consider signing Rozier even if his bail is amended based on the allegations. Miami Heat fans, in particular, are still upset about the situation that cost the franchise money when Rozier joined the Heat from the Hornets in a blockbuster trade that also included Kyle Lowry and a first-round pick.
But the arbitration ruling clears the $26.6 million from the Heat’s payroll and allows that salary cap space to be used again.
The Hornets claimed they had no knowledge of Rozier’s alleged bribery before sending him to the Heat. After deliberation, the two franchises reached a compromise where the Heat received a second-round pick from the Hornets.
Most Heat fans did not believe that was enough compensation, as a second-round pick is often not very useful to NBA teams.
