It may not be a first-round pick, but the Miami Heat are receiving a 2026 second-round pick from the Charlotte Hornets as compensation as a result of the Terry Rozier dispute, Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds first reported Monday.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania confirmed the report shortly thereafter.
According to the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang, the second-rounder will be the most favorable of the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets. Golden State’s pick is currently projected to be No. 44, while the Nuggets are projected to be 53.
This is huge news from the Heat’s perspective. Again, it’s not a first-round pick, but acquiring another 2026 NBA Draft pick in what’s expected to be fairly deep class is objectively good from the Heat’s angle.
Miami acquired a second-round pick from Brooklyn last summer in the Haywood Highsmith trade, but it was a top-55 protected pick that was never going to convert. At least this one will, rewarding the Heat with multiple picks in the same draft for the second time since 2021.
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These are a few excerpts from an article that appeared this morning in YARDBARKER. The full article goes into more detail.
It is very obvious that Adam Silver/the NBA grossly mismanaged the Rozier situation, costing Miami a first round pick and tens of millions of dollars. It is also obvious Adam Silver and the NBA are not being held accountable for their gross mismanagement of the situation, while Charlotte received a slap on the wrist.
Terry Rozier Investigation Exposes Mismanagement in the NBA
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/terry_rozier_investigation_exposes_mismanagement_in_the_nba/s1_17201_43576966
Irony is that the Heat made the Rozier trade in part to save money and it saved them $15m in 2023-24. It was also a shot at on-court improvement that year, but tax savings was a part of the trade. To say now that the Heat are the victims is revisionist history
“The Heat’s luxury-tax bill for this season will drop from $29 million to $14 million, with Rozier’s $23.2 million salary replacing Lowry’s $29.6 million on its books”
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article284364609.html
Just because there were valid reasons for the trade and unloading Lowry’s salary to improve overall cap space doesn’t mean the Heat WERE NOT victims, or it is so called ‘revisionist history’. Are you related to Silver? Because you are a major apologist for what occurred. No matter how much documentation we provide, you still come back with how we should feel lucky. As mentioned, you’re entitled to your opinion. But stop trying to convince us it was not handled badly by Silver and Charlotte.
The Heat were not victims here, I mean that is just ridiculous. The Rozier trade saved them millions and dropped them below the second apron, a major goal going into the 2023-24 season. It didn’t work out on the court, and Rozier didn’t play for the last year and a half. As compensation the NBA gave them a pick in the strongest draft in 10 years. For the Heat this was a good outcome for this trade.
Miami was a victim. Had Riley known the facts, he could have opted to find another team to trade with in order to lower the team’s payroll. The decisions by Charlotte and the NBA to withhold information from Miami that has since led to criminal charges and possibly a criminal conviction, Miami has been left legally and financially vulnerable. By agreeing tacitly to lie to Miami, Charlotte and the NBA took other trade options away from Riley.
A late second round pick in the “strongest draft in 10 years” does not compensate for Rozier’s underperformance in 2023-2024, gross underperformance in 2024-2025 and total lack of availability in 2025-2026 because of his suspension by the NBA following his arrest on criminal charges. Nor does it compensate Miami for the $60M it has spent on Rozier’s salary the past 2.5 years.
The NBA instructed Charlotte to give Miami one of their 2026 second round picks, while allowing the Hornets to keep Miami’s 2027 first round pick. The Hornets have 3 first rounders in 2027 and a total of 5 in the next 3 seasons, plus 3 second rounders. The Hornets have been rewarded for deceiving Miami, with the NBA’s approval.
Many potential fringe first-rounders may opt to stay in school one more year and wait to declare until the much weaker 2027 draft, rather than declaring for the 2026 draft. This may significantly narrow the talent pool for picks 40-60. Miami is to receive either a #44 or #53 pick from Charlotte.
What is the NBA giving Miami for its share of the responsibility for deceiving Riley about the FBI investigation by withholding relevant information before approving the Rozier trade?
Why are Adam Silver and the NBA allowed to get off the hook while Charlotte pays a minimal penalty and Miami gets the shaft as its reward for being deceived? Miami should, at minimum, have its 2027 first round pick returned.
That’s like saying you moved from a big house to a smaller one to reduce your house payment not knowing the previous owner lied to you about its condition. When you discovered serious structural problems you pursued a remedy but were told cancellation of the purchase agreement or reimbursement for unanticipated repair costs are not possible.
Why Miami decided to trade for Rozier is irrelevant. The fact Charlotte and the NBA intentionally withheld relevant information that may have altered Miami’s decision is the issue. In contract law, this is called FRAUD!
Miami already benefited from the Rozier trade in the form of $15m in cost savings and being under the second apron in 23-24. It’s not a situation that can be taken back to the status quo two years later. The trade was not fraud under the CBA, it is a gray area whether the Hornets even had to disclose that Rozier was under investigation. The remedy decided by the NBA is giving the Heat a second round pick in a loaded draft which is more than fair. That pick is going to be big especially if the Warriors continue to fall in the standings
How do you figure that? Golden State’s pick is currently projected to be #44, while the Nugget’s is projected to be #53.
And the second:
We want our money back, too, NBA. – Cali.
A: Which the Heat very well might be able to claw back if Terry Rozier is found guilty or accepts a plea deal. But that, too, is an area where the NBA fell short, with the Heat locked in hard against the luxury tax by having to carry Terry’s salary on their books this season. With relief in that regard, it might have changed the outlook at both the trade deadline and even now on the buyout market. In the NBA, you can get an injured-player exception but not an indicted-player exception.
I am clearly not the only one who sees the inequity of this situation.
Charlotte had to pay a penalty for not disclosing the ongoing FBI criminal investigation of Rozier at the time of the January 2024 trade. What is Adam Silver’s penalty for failing to disclose the investigation before approving the trade? I think a first round pick in 2027 should suffice.
What should the Charlotte and NBA penalties be if Rozier is convicted? It’s obvious his productivity dropped off significantly after the trade. 2025-2026 is even worse. $26M+ for sitting home and scratching his b***s. Charlotte should be responsible for fully reimbursing Miami’s expenses (at least for this season) and returning the 2027 pick, at minimum. Period!
I will post 2 q&a from Ira. Here’s the first:
Ira, why aren’t we getting our first-round pick back from Charlotte? A second-round pick is an insult, especially since the Hornets and the NBA didn’t disclose that Terry Rozier was under investigation for betting. – David, Fort Lauderdale.
A: The way it has been explained to me is that the Heat received a tangible benefit of adding Terry Rozier to their mix for a season and a half before he was placed on NBA leave one game into this season. So while it might not have worked out the way the Heat wanted, they did have Terry available for his 95 appearances over those two seasons. So first-round pick minus 95 games of usage equals, according to Adam Silver math, a second round pick. Basically, the Heat drove Rozier off the lot and depreciation set in immediately. So the payoff from that NBA lemon law was the second-rounder. What will remain a greater unknown is how much did the gambling investigation weigh on Terry over those 95 games
Thats the way I see it too.
This outcome feels like a way for the NBA to sweep the gambling issue under the rug but regardless it’s a big win for the Heat. According to Sam Vecenie there are 44 players in this draft who teams see as first round grade prospects. So in this draft having the 44th pick could be like getting a late FRP. And everyone knows how good the Heat are in this range (their last pick at 44 was Pelle Larsson)
And the 2027 and 2028 drafts are seen as weak drafts, while this one is seen as a once in a decade type draft in terms of depth. Good outcome for Heat
“This looks like one of the best draft classes of the last decade and might end up having a case as the best” https://www.nba.com/news/the-athletic-2026-nba-draft-top-100-prospects
The top and the middle, yes. The bottom half of the second round, not so much. This is especially true if a large number of prospects choose to wait to declare for the much weaker 2027 draft.
Okay, it’s not a ‘big win’ for the team. It’s mild compensation. A big win would have been getting our draft pick back, or, as has been written in the press, they could have awarded the team an added 31st pick in the first round (of course, really the same as pick 1 of the second round). But I appreciate your points- it does look like a good draft. The 44 range includes Dyson Daniels’ brother Dash, Moustapha Thiam, and other interesting prospects that can help the team.
Have to look at the trade as a sunk cost. The league was never going to void/revoke
a trade two years later. To get a 2nd in this particular draft may be the equivalent of a late first in other drafts. If you think Heat will make playoffs next year, could look at this situation as Heat trading for another pick in 2026 in exchange for their 2028 FRP (in what is projected to be a weak draft). They took a shot on Rozier and missed but can now potentially add two impact players in this draft, or use this 2nd as a trade asset
I understand your point, but this should have been resolved sooner and, imo, with more equitable compensation for the team. As noted, I’m aware of the depth of the draft and am also aware that the Heat may recover all or part of the entire salary if Rozier is found guilty. However, you’re entitled to see it any way you like. I will repeat myself and say, yes, it’s better than nothing. But fair, no. And there are many people that feel the same. I can post an article from the Sun Sentinel and a link to Heat Report by Nic Rohloff if you like, but in the end, this is what we’re getting. Silver followed the rule of the CBA, but not the spirit of fairness. The issuance of this second round pick, outside of the trade deadline, and 2 years after the initial trade, is unprecedented. There is no question Silver coordinated this with Charlotte. It’s pacification. The team was compelled to have a dead roster spot for the entire season and pay $26+m for the privilege. Respectfully, you will not convince me otherwise, even though, yes, there are some interesting players in that 44 range.
Fully agree. Better than nothing but not fair.
“multiple sources across the league told ESPN they see no path to Miami winning a grievance with the league over this trade”
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47229222/terry-rozier-investigation-shines-spotlight-nba-trade-protocols-heat-hornets
The Heat were really working with nothing here and got a real asset out of it. One that if it’s in the mid 40s, may be comparable to a pick in the mid/late 20s in a weak draft. Big deal here for team building and adding to the talent on this team
The Rozier trade ended up being
Terry Rozier and 2026 SRP
for Kyle Lowry and 2027 Miami FRP (assuming Heat makes playoffs next year)
That looks pretty good when you consider the strength of the 2026 draft vs 2027 draft
“NBA front offices, meanwhile, are recalibrating their long-term draft capital assessments. The value of 2027 first-round picks could take a hit if this trend continues, with some teams already questioning whether it’s worth targeting that year’s lottery. The possibility of a weak draft class may also discourage teams from engaging in long-term rebuilds focused on acquiring high picks in 2027.”
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-why-2027-draft-looks-like-a-dud-after-star-studded-2026-class
If the Hornets said to the Heat, we’ll give you Rozier and a second for Lowry and a first, but Rozier will not play the entire third season but you’ll still have to pay him, would the Heat or fans think that’s a good deal? No way! And we can play ping pong on this every day and it won’t change anything.
After the expiring money the trade has become sending out a 2027 FRP in a weak draft for a 2026 SRP in a loaded / once in a decade type draft. Sounds like a win to me. There’s a good chance that pick will either be an impact player for this team or a real asset to use in a trade.
I don’t know if there is a 2027 mock draft out there, but you are suggesting that a #44 pick this year would be better than a #15-20 pick next year. There is no way you can know that. In most drafts, even weak ones, picking 20-25 picks higher will usually get you a player at least as good, and possibly better than picking 25 later. You keep trying to rationalize why this is a good deal for the Heat. It may be the best, or only deal, we will get at this point, and I accept that. You’re entitled to believe it’s fair. I don’t.
If there are 44 players with a first round grade this year it’s possible that #44 in this draft is equivalent or better than #15-20 next year. Plus it’s a year earlier, that’s another factor in favor – whoever is added has an extra year with this team (if the Heat keep the pick).
Execs ring the alarms on 2027 draft
“This is one of the weakest high school classes I’ve seen in a long time” … “There might not be a single All-Star in this group, and after the first few prospects, I’m not sure how many NBA starters I see either from the other five-star recruits. New players always emerge, but by now we usually have a pretty good idea of who the most elite prospects are, and it’s looking like slim pickings, even more so than the weak 2024 NBA draft”
This development could also have major implications on how aggressive NBA teams decide to be in dangling 2027 first-round picks while potentially repressing the appetite for teams considering tanking their way to a high draft pick.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45742034/2025-nba-summer-league-buzz-intel-storylines-reaction-las-vegas
You can keep on trying, but I ain’t buying.
Not trying anything. But I don’t understand why this is seen as an unfair deal for the Heat rather than a win when they were not guaranteed to get anything in compensation.
The Rozier trade was in 2024 – the NBA is not going to revoke a trade two years after it happened. Rozier was also cleared by the NBA and has not been found guilty of anything in the federal investigation.
Under the terms of the CBA, Charlotte was not required to disclose that Rozier was the subject of a league investigation. The CBA says: “No Member shall make any other material misrepresentation or fail to disclose any other material information during the trade call”, but does not define what “material information” means beyond a player’s health.
You can definitely argue that Charlotte/the league should have disclosed to Miami that Rozier was under investigation, and that might have stopped Miami from making the trade. But they didn’t, and the trade was completed in 2024.
The amended trade now – a 2026 SRP for what will be a 2027 FRP if Miami makes the playoffs next year – is roughly equivalent in value and could even favor Miami.
In my opinion the interesting story is that Miami has added three lottery level talents in the last two drafts – Jakucionas, Larsson and Ware – and could now add two more this summer if they keep the picks.
But I don’t understand why this is seen as an unfair deal for the Heat rather than a win when they were not guaranteed to get anything in compensation.
And that’s what you don’t seem to get. YOU don’t see it as unfair. Many others do. Your opinion is not the only take on the subject. My opinion, SM’s opinion, and others are every bit as valid as yours.
You can’t debate him with facts. His mind is already made up. Its like arguing with a brainwashed cult member. You can’t win.
Soooo, if you were a projected late first round or early/mid second round pick in a stacked 2026 draft who could choose to wait until a weak 2027 draft in order to be a much higher ranked prospect, which would you take. You can get back to me on that one.
I didn’t say they would win a grievance.
Riley agreed to resolve the dispute by accepting a late 2026 second round pick as compensation for over $60M in salary Miami has paid to Rozier PLUS Miami’s 2027 FIRST ROUND PICK! The “Godfather” should at least have held out for some KY Jelly to go with it.
Notwithstanding my feelings on the matter, I looked at potential 2026 prospects who might help shore up Miami’s front court. There are several in the mid-late first and mid-late second rounds.
See Draft Room prospects and profiles at:
https://nbadraftroom.com/2026-nba-mock-draft/
I was on that site last night. I think it is the best, most comprehensive of the bunch.
Several possible bigs with defense, rebounding and athletic skills. A few with offensive potential too. When Adam Silver gives you lemons, make lemonade.
So I guess now it is each buying team’s responsibility to have a laundry list of items they must ask the selling team before considering trading for a player.
The NBA should be required to confirm the veracity of the information provided by selling teams before approving any trades.
Failure to disclose relevant information by the selling party should trigger a punishment of a first round pick and a fine. In real estate law, the seller’s failure to disclose relevant information to a buyer can result in the invalidation of the purchasing contract and civil penalties for the seller.
boooo! That’s not enough. Its like they took a big piece of pie from us realized they did wrong so replaced it with a candy saying they’re both sweets.
You hit the nail on the head!
Bro was it Silver who arranged that? Can’t find the participation of the league anywhere
The problem is Charlotte knew in advance they were trading Miami a potentially damaged product. The NBA also knew in advance of that concealment, yet proceeded to compound the deception by approving the trade while failing to notify Miami of the potential criminal issue.
I’m left with only the following conclusions why Adam Silver chose to approve the trade without notifying Miami of the FBI investigation:
1) He didn’t want any negative publicity for the NBA
2) He has a real hard-on for Pat Riley and the Heat
3) He thought he could kill two birds with one stone (avoiding bad publicity for the NBA while also screwing Riley/Miami)
So basically (my guess) Silver made a secret call to Hornets to do a “small” move to compensate. The Rozier case is dragging on taking too long maybe an insider already told Silver there’s already a decision coming out soon.
I can’t believe Riley would accept such a raw deal. If he does, he’s slipping/lost his touch.
The article fails to mention if this was an NBA mandate or if Charlotte is doing it out of the goodness of their heart. It seems to me Charlotte and the NBA are getting off the hook big time.
At least Charlotte is paying a small price for failing to disclose the FBI’s ongoing criminal investigation of Rozier to Miami before the trade. However, Adam Silver/the NBA approved the trade while also failing to disclose relevant facts to Miami. If Charlotte was required to give up a second round pick, the NBA should be required to give up a first rounder.
The solution is to create a 31st first round pick in the 2027 draft. This would essentially be the #1 second rounder. Either give it to Miami or give it to Charlotte and return Miami’s 2027 first rounder. Another option is to require Charlotte to give up it’s 2027 second round pick as well as it’s 2026 second rounder to Miami, plus pay a fine to Miami equal to Rozier’s 2025-2026 salary. I could live with that.
Allowing Charlotte to get away with highway robbery with the NBA’s knowledge and consent is worth more than just one late second round pick. Why is Charlotte the scapegoat? Why aren’t Adam Silver and the NBA being required to account for their part in this deception/fraud?
It’s really quite amazing that we are having this resurgence during a season where we were one player short, but it was a player making low level starter salary. It was a big obstacle to overcome, and the Heat have exceeded some expectations so far. The second round, probable mid round pick (which is where we got Pelle, so there is a small chance of the pick being useful), will likely not dramatically improve our teams fortunes. But, getting Rozier’s salary off the books very much could be impactful.
Rozier’s low level starter salary is $6M+ more than Powell’s.
It is. Maybe I should have said mid-level starter salary.
It was some were willing to trade Wiggins for, so pretty sweet. 😛
Well, it’s better than nothing, but I wouldn’t call it fair. Fair to me would’ve been no less than the top of the second round. Really fair would be we were awarded our first round pick back. There also should be some financial compensation as we had to pay the full salary for a player out the entire season not due to injury. Better than nothing? Sure. Fair? No way!
There are three parties involved:
-Heat, which trade for a players, without making a full inquiry, what kind of person he is. I m not buying that that was one time mistake from Rosier. I m sure that there were signs or at least rumors that he is a gambler or has connections with suspicious members of society. So somebody in Miami didn’t did his job as he should.
-Charlotte, which trade a player knowing that he is under investigation. But Miami asked for a trade, and they did it, and wash their hands. After all, trades are approved from NBA, and if its good enough for NBA, than its ok for them too.
-NBA, which approved the deal, knowing about the whole thing. But trading players under investigation is not against the rules, as not trading players suspended for something (like PG, or Ja). NBA didnt tell about it, because telling that would reverse the trade and expose Rosier or even the investigation about him.
All three parts are not innocent in this, therefore establishing the state before the trade is not an option, because Charlotte and NBA take all responsibility for the whole thing, and that outcome wouldn’t be fair.
So the fair option is the second best thing available. And that’s a second round pick, which Charlotte has.
The whole thing reminds me of business going south with some help of partners and a lot of bad luck. You can stand on your position require full compensation, and got nothing or got everything and lost future business, or fix everything the best way possible, and keep good relations and future business.
I m always for the last one, so I think its fair.
I totally disagree that the Heat were not innocent in this matter. No one told them and they had no real way of finding out about the investigation. You are absolutely correct in that the rules didn’t require Charlotte or the league to reveal that Rozier was being investigated. But being contractually right does not make it morally right. SunMan has pointed out that there are remedies in civil law here that could have come into play. If someone sells you a car that they specifically say has low mileage and has never been in an accident, and you find the opposite is true, you can sue to get fully reimbursed. While you can settle, that party can’t compel you to accept $500 and go away.
Regardless of my feelings, it’s a done deal and I/we have to accept it. But it doesn’t make it right.
I never said, its right, I said its fair.
You cant turn the clock around, so you are trying to solve the problem best way possible. Thats fair.
Being Forced to have a dead roster spot the entire season, tying up $26+m that we may never recover, is not fair.
Who is trying to solve the problem the best way possible? Certainly not the Heat. The solution is being forced on us. I haven’t read anywhere that the team was involved in any negotiations. It seems like everything was handled by Silver’s team. Silver and Charlotte ate the cake. To be fair, they gave Miami the leftover crumbs and expect us to thank them for their kindness.
Rosier was traded to Heat on jan 2.3 2024. and placed on unpaid leave by the NBA in October 2025 for Kyle Lawry and a first round pick.
For a 1.5 year out of 2.3 years or a season and a half of his contract Heat were able to use his services without limitations. That’s far more then half of his time in Miami. True, he played like shit and be injured most of the time, but this doesn’t matter in this case.
Charlotte trade a good player for them, because never use Lowry there, and get a first pick, which was not converted yet.
So, after this deal, Charlotte basically exchange a 2.5 years of a solid player (for them) and a second pick for a first pick.
Miami got a 1.5 year of a player out of 2.3 years and a second pick for a first pick.
If we are talking about ifs, if Rosier would be removed a day after a trade, a first round pick return (and Lowry return) would be fair. If Rosier would be removed a day before his contract expires, the deal should stand as it was.
Everything in between is a matter of negotiation. Second round pick for a year of not playing of the end of the bench player is a good compensation.
Sensible people can disagree on an issue when neither is totally right or wrong. That is where we are now.
Nothing wrong with that. I respect you opinion.
I was wondering how everyone was going to think about this. I think you nailed it. At least we got something.
Thats fair.
I’m satisfied, it’s better then nothing, and this a good draft class to have it for
Finally! Take it and run like the wind.