The Miami Heat are taking their name a little too seriously with their new controversy. After guard Terry Rozier was arrested by the FBI as part of a federal gambling investigation, sources close to the team say Miami had no idea that Rozier was under any kind of scrutiny before trading for him earlier this year.
Back in January, the Heat traded veteran Kyle Lowry and a first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Rozier, hoping his scoring spark would energize the offense. What they didn’t know was that Rozier had already been linked to irregular betting patterns during his time in Charlotte.
According to The Miami Herald, neither the NBA nor the Hornets informed the Heat of any investigation or concerns surrounding Rozier. The report, by Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang, notes that the league followed its own confidentiality rules and did not share that information with Miami before approving the trade. The Hornets have not confirmed whether they were even aware of the investigation at the time.
“The Heat didn’t know about the investigation at the time of the trade,” The Miami Herald wrote. “As of Friday, they had not been told whether the investigation had concluded when the trade was made.”
FBI Arrest Raises Questions About NBA Transparency and Miami’s Next Move
The FBI’s involvement has reignited debate over how much the NBA should reveal to teams when player investigations are ongoing. Miami’s front office is reportedly exploring its options, including whether it can recover the first-round pick it traded away.
Charlotte Hornets communications chief Mike Cristaldi has not made an official statement on the case. That silence has only deepened Miami’s frustration. League sources told ESPN and Reuters that the NBA’s internal review months ago found no evidence of wrongdoing, but the optics of the situation are now a major concern.
While Miami dominated the Memphis Grizzlies in a 146-119 win Friday night, the victory did little to quiet questions about what happens next. Rozier has not made a public statement, and the NBA has placed him on indefinite leave while cooperating with federal authorities.
For the Heat, the uncertainty lingers. They traded in good faith for a player who was already under the shadow of an investigation they never knew existed. Whether the organization receives any answers, or restitution, may depend on how transparent the league chooses to be this time.
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