Sources told ESPN that the Miami Heat were not aware of the NBA’s investigation into Terry Rozier when they acquired him from the Charlotte Hornets, a deal completed for a 2027 lottery‑protected first‑round pick. When asked whether they were aware of the league’s inquiry before finalizing the trade, the Hornets declined to comment, according to ESPN.
Rozier was later arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn on charges related to an alleged insider sports‑betting scheme tied to his time with Charlotte, pleading not guilty. The case centers on suspicious prop bets associated with a March 2023 Hornets game, and has raised broader questions around trade‑disclosure protocols and league investigations. ESPN reported the NBA conducted its own inquiry at the time and did not find Rozier violated league rules; the federal case proceeded separately.
Miami completed the trade for Rozier in January 2024, with the 2027 lottery‑protected first‑round pick forming the core of the compensation. The Heat maintain they were not informed of any ongoing league investigation during trade talks and approval. The Hornets, when asked by ESPN if they knew of the investigation prior to the deal, declined to comment, leaving unresolved whether any parties had contemporaneous knowledge and what, if anything, should have been disclosed under league or team policies.
The situation has spotlighted how investigations, league or federal, intersect with player transactions and what information is shared among teams. If a club lacks awareness of an inquiry that later becomes public or criminal, it can complicate asset valuation and risk assessments attached to trades. ESPN’s reporting notes the NBA did not find a rules violation during its review, but the federal case has continued to evolve, sharpening scrutiny on who knew what and when, and how the league and teams handle sensitive investigative information around player movement.
