Heat G Terry Rozier and Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups will “not receive their salaries while on leave for their arrests on federal gambling-related charges,” according to sources cited by Tim Reynolds of the AP. Rozier had been “due to receive the first installment” of a $26.6M annual salary with the Heat “later this week.” Sources said that the first installment, “and future installments, will be held pending resolution of his legal case.” A source said that if Rozier is cleared and allowed to return to the NBA, which placed him on leave hours after his arrest, he “could receive the held payments in full.” A source said that the Heat will “not receive any immediate salary cap relief by the NBA’s decision.” The NBPA indicated that it “would file a grievance on Rozier’s behalf.” An NBPA spokesperson said the union is “in agreement with the league that upholding the integrity of the game is of the utmost importance,” but it plans to “challenge their decision” to place Rozier on leave without pay. Reynolds notes there are “provisions in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement that allow the league, in certain situations, to place salary withheld from a player in an interest-bearing account.” A source said that Billups is “having his salary held by the Trail Blazers” (AP, 10/29).
