​NEW YORK – Terry Rozier is pursuing a path to continue his basketball career while he remains under federal investigation and awaiting trial in a gambling probe. The veteran 6-foot-5 guard appeared in federal court on Wednesday with new representation, attorneys David Markus and Margot Moss, as he seeks to modify the conditions of his release in the case so he can pursue an NBA contract. The judge, however, denied the motion to remove Hornets players and coaches from the no-contact list. Rozier’s trial is scheduled to begin on February 8, 2027.
Markus, who previously represented Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime associate, is aiming to move the case to the Southern District of Florida, where he is based. He asked Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to hold off on ruling while Rozier gauges his market for basketball opportunities. Hall denied the request, citing multiple legal hurdles. One major issue is international travel, since Rozier would hypothetically play against the Toronto Raptors. Government attorneys noted that international travel is rarely granted to someone before trial, raising concerns about the risk of flight.
The six-foot-five guard was arrested in October and is accused of actions during his time with the Charlotte Hornets in 2023 aimed at manipulating his on-court statistics to benefit gamblers. A superseding indictment recently added two new charges, including an allegation that Rozier accepted a bribe to influence his performance in games.
In April, Rozier was waived by the Miami Heat, which had recently lost an arbitration ruling he had filed seeking to obtain a contract payout after an initial decision favored him. However, months later the arbitrator reversed that ruling, determining that Rozier’s bond terms—prohibiting contact with the Heat and Hornets—prevent him from fulfilling his contract. The reversal cost Rozier roughly $26 million that he would have earned from the final year of a four-year, $96.3 million contract signed in 2021. The Hornets traded Rozier to the Heat in February 2024.
Markus is also pursuing a forum in which the case could be heard, asking for a transfer to the Southern District of Florida. He told Hall that he wanted a temporary stay on any ruling so Rozier could explore his options on the market. Hall declined, indicating the complexity and constraints surrounding pre-trial travel and the need to address several legal obstacles before any decision could be made.
If Rozier is able to play professionally while under the current restrictions, the most plausible domestic outlets would be leagues that do not require international travel or that operate entirely within the United States. The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a summer event featuring former college players playing for their schools, and the Big3, Ice Cube’s three-on-three league featuring retired players, are both domestically based and could accommodate Rozier under his current conditions. Neither league, however, offers the same level of competition or compensation as the NBA, and teams would carefully assess the legal and reputational implications of signing a player under federal indictment.
TBT recently drew scrutiny after it removed former Kentucky guard Kerr Kriisa from its upcoming tournament amid his arrest in connection with a multi-million-dollar fraud case. The developments surrounding Rozier, including the new charges and the ongoing discussions about travel and eligibility, add to a complex legal landscape that will continue to unfold as his trial date approaches and as potential NBA suitors weigh the risks and rewards of pursuing a player facing serious federal allegations.