The Miami Heat reportedly can file a grievance with the NBA about their trade with the Charlotte Hornets that brought guard Terry Rozier to Miami.
However, it may be hard for Miami to actually win the grievance and potentially recoup a draft pick that it still owes to Charlotte.
“Miami can file a grievance with the league for not being informed about the investigation before the trade,” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks wrote. “Sources told ESPN that the Heat haven’t decided. Despite the trade occurring nearly two years ago, no statute of limitations exists on filing a grievance.
“One complicating factor is that trade has not been fully completed. The 2027 lottery-protected first-round pick — it would become a 2028 unprotected first-rounder if the Heat miss the playoffs in 2027 — has yet to convey, leaving something for the Heat to potentially fight to regain. But multiple sources across the league told ESPN they see no path to Miami winning a grievance with the league over this trade.”
Rozier was dealt to Miami during the 2023-24 season, and he has not appeared in a game this season. Rozier is not with the team, as he is facing charges in a gambling case that has put his NBA future in serious jeopardy.
During the 2023-24 season, Rozier appeared in 31 games for the Heat (30 starts) after being traded there and averaged 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from 3.
He wasn’t as effective scoring the ball as he was in Charlotte, and he did not play in Miami’s playoff series against the Boston Celtics due to an injury.
The following season (the 2024-25 campaign), Rozier found himself in and out of head coach Erik Spoelstra’s rotation, appearing in 64 games and making 23 starts. The results weren’t good at all (he shot just 39.1 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from deep), and he didn’t play in Miami’s playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The trade has been a disaster for the Heat, especially now that it’s possible Rozier will never play in the NBA again. The NBA banned former Toronto Raptors big man Jontay Porter for life after he was found to have violated the league’s gambling rules, and it’s possible Rozier could face the same punishment.
Still, the Heat are the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference so far this season and in the mix to make the playoffs. Miami has lost three games in a row, but it will face the Orlando Magic in an NBA Cup clash on Tuesday night.