Questions and answers on Rozier situation and whether Heat can replace him

MIAMI — The Heat won’t have guard Terry Rozier after his arrest Thursday, and the team won’t be getting any immediate cap relief to replace him, either.

The NBA placed Rozier on immediate leave after he was charged with involvement in an illegal insider sports betting scheme. He is accused of informing a betting ring that he would be leaving a March 2023 game early, when he played for the Charlotte Hornets, which allowed them to place bets that he would not surpass various statistical thresholds.

But in the hours after his arrest, the NBA did not immediately void Rozier’s contract, which would have instantly removed his $26.6 million salary from the Heat’s books.

An NBA spokesman declined to comment when asked if Rozier’s contract would be voided before the case goes to trial. The Heat also declined to comment.

“We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today,” the NBA said in a statement. “Terry Rozier and [Portland Trail Blazers coach] Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority.”

Some questions and answers on how Rozier’s arrest affects the Heat and its ability to replace him.

— Will Rozier continue to be paid, and will he play again for the Heat?

Rozier will continue to be paid while on leave, according to the NBA’s labor agreement. But he will remain away from the team. And it’s difficult to imagine any scenario in which he rejoins the Heat, unless charges are shockingly dropped.

His contract expires after this season, and a return next season — even if he’s acquitted — would be unfathomable.

— Can the Heat suspend Rozier?

No. The NBA handles matters of this nature.

— Will the Heat get cap relief anytime soon?

Only if the NBA voids Rozier’s contract.

Last season, the NBA voided Jontay Porter’s two-way contract with Toronto after a league investigation determined that he had disclosed confidential information to bettors, limited his participation in at least one game while he was with Raptors and bet on NBA games while playing in the G League.

In Rozier’s case, the NBA cleared him after its own investigation last year. So the league must decide whether to attempt to void his contract, before he potentially goes to trial, or wait until after the matter is adjudicated.

— If Rozier’s contract is voided in the coming weeks or months, would the Heat have cap space to replace him?

No. Miami would be slightly above the $154.6 million salary cap, even with Rozier’s $26.6 million salary removed.

— Would the Heat have any mechanisms to replace Rozier if the NBA voids his contract this season?

Yes. The Heat’s room under the luxury tax threshold would increase from about $1.5 million to about $28 million.

That would allow Miami to add a 14th and 15th player, and remain under the tax, through multiple mechanisms:

1). Minimum contracts.

2). Signing a player to a $12.8 million contract using Miami’s midlevel exception. Beginning last season, teams below the first apron can use that exception money to acquire a player in a trade without sending away a player in return. The Heat is well below the first apron.

3). Acquiring a player using a $16.8 million trade exception that resulted from trades involving Jimmy Butler and Duncan Robinson.

Because the NBA allows a bit of wiggle room above the value of trade exceptions, Miami could trade for a player earning as much as $17.08 million without sending any players out — but only if Rozier’s contract is voided by the NBA.

4). Acquiring a player using a $5.6 million trade exception that Miami obtained in the Haywood Highsmith trade with Brooklyn.

The NBA’s trade deadline is Feb. 5.

— Can the Heat combine these aforementioned three exceptions to acquire a pricier player?

No. Trade exceptions cannot be combined.

Rozier going on immediate leave will leave the Heat with 13 players who are eligible to play. (Because Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakucionis are injured, Miami will have 11 players on standard contracts available Friday at Memphis.)

— Will the NBA require the Heat to replace Rozier on the roster, since teams are not permitted to have fewer than 14 players on standard contracts for more than two weeks in a row or 28 days in a season?

The NBA declined to answer that question, but it appears that the Heat will not be required to add a player because Rozier remains under contract while on leave.

If the Heat chooses to add a player before mid-December, it would go back above the luxury tax threshold. And the Heat is determined to avoid paying a tax this season. That likely contributed to Precious Achiuwa’s release last weekend.

— If the NBA voids Rozier’s contract, what free agents are available to the Heat?

It’s not an impressive list. The group of veterans who remain unsigned includes:

1). Guards Alec Burks (who was on the Heat last season), Malik Beasley (who has been investigated by the FBI for gambling but has not been charged), Spencer Didwiddie (who signed in Germany this week), Markelle Fultz, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kevin Knox, Garrison Matthews, Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet, Ben Simmons and former Heat guard Delon Wright.

2). Small forwards Torrey Craig and Jae Crowder.

3). Power rotation players Achiuwa, Kai Jones (worked out for the Heat in August), Markieff Morris, Bol Bol, Mo Bamba, Alex Len, Trey Lyles (playing for Real Madrid but has an opt clause in his contract), DeAndre Jordan, Taj Gibson and Tristan Thompson and former Heat player James Johnson.

— Could the NBA rescind the January 2023 trade and give the Heat back a first-round pick still due Charlotte?

That’s highly unlikely. Miami owes Charlotte a lottery-protected first-round pick in 2027. If the Heat misses the playoffs next season, then the Hornets would get an unprotected first-round pick from Miami in 2028.