Terry Rozier’s NBA future clouded as judge denies bail modification
Former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier’s path back to the NBA became more complicated on Wednesday when U.S. District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall denied a defense request to modify the bail conditions blocking him from contact with potential witnesses, per the Associated Press.
Rozier is facing federal bribery and conspiracy charges. Prosecutors allege he accepted a $70,000 payoff to tip off gamblers that he would leave a March 2023 game early while with the Charlotte Hornets, citing a lingering lower leg injury that was not on the team’s injury report.
His friend Deniro “Niro” Laster, also charged, shared or sold the information to others who placed more than $250,000 in bets that Rozier’s points, assists, and other statistical totals would fall below the sportsbook lines. Rozier has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in February 2027.
Rozier is scheduled to stand trial in February 2027
The hearing at Brooklyn federal court produced two notable developments beyond the ruling. Defense attorney David Markus asked the court to allow Rozier to practice and play with witnesses as long as no discussion of the case occurred. Judge DeArcy Hall denied the request, saying it would be “impossible to police” conversations on the court. When Markus proposed stationing a lawyer at courtside to monitor interactions, the judge cut it off. “Unless you’re suiting up, it doesn’t help me,” she said.
The judge also formally admonished Rozier for already violating the no-contact provision of his $3 million bond by texting someone on the prohibited list, saying Rozier reached out to inform that person they were on the list.
The distinction did not matter to the judge. “What that tells me is that he believes he knows better than the court,” DeArcy Hall said at the hearing.
On international travel, Markus requested the court lift a ban on Rozier leaving the country so he could play in Canada if signed to an NBA team. The prosecution called the request premature and suggested Rozier could attempt to flee if allowed abroad. Markus called that “out of bounds.”
Former Heat guard Terry Rozier wants to play in the NBA while he fights sports gambling charges that sidelined him last season, but a U.S. District Judge denied a defense request to modify Rozier’s bail conditions. https://t.co/ONFMpXJJe7
— ESPN (@espn) July 9, 2026
The judge said she would wait until Rozier actually signs an NBA contract before addressing the travel question. She noted that another defendant in a related case had recently asked permission to play basketball in Greece. That request was denied.
Rozier was arrested in October 2025 as part of a sweeping federal gambling investigation that has netted more than three dozen arrests, stretching from NBA locker rooms to underground poker clubs. Malik Beasley pleaded not guilty last week to similar charges in the same investigation.
Rozier recently replaced his lead attorney, bringing in David Markus, whose past clients include Ghislaine Maxwell, to replace Jim Trusty. His defense team has filed motions to dismiss the case entirely and to transfer venue from New York to Miami. Neither motion has been resolved.
Markus told the court that without further modifications, NBA teams could interpret Rozier’s bail conditions as a prohibition on playing in the league. The judge clarified that the conditions do not contain such a directive.
“It is not a directive that he cannot play in the NBA,” DeArcy Hall said, but “unfortunately there is a consequence of being under indictment. That’s the reality.”
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