Ira Winderman: The losing proposition of Terry Rozier leaves Riley, Heat having to answer

So, basically, a league that recognizes that we’ve moved into a time when there could be a market for referee Scott Foster issuing his next ejection, Kawhi Leonard’s next injury, a fan entering the court, certainly all within the realm of possibilities considering how such markets already deal in political and military realms.

In relation to such markets, the impact pales of Rozier pulling himself from a game during his time with the Charlotte Hornets. In fact, a case could be made that the involvement of former Heat guard Damon Jones stood more impactful in the FBI’s gambling investigation, pleading guilty on Tuesday to two counts of wire-fraud conspiracy.

Which brings it back to Riley having to answer for previously putting faith in Rozier to restore the Heat’s playoff chances, with Rozier now with the greater challenge of attempting to restore his reputation.

“Well, it’s probably the most stupid thing that a player could do,” Riley said. “Absolutely, just stupid. I hate to use that word, but it’s the worst thing that any NBA player, any professional player who’s had a dream to make it, especially somebody who’s making a lot of money already, is to get themselves caught up in anything like that.”

Left unknown is whether Rozier’s dramatic drop-off in 2024-25 was due to the looming threat of the eventual FBI action or whether it was due to the injury that left him in a neck brace for the 2024 playoffs, or some other ailment.

But Riley was asked.

So he answered, without getting into Rozier by name.

“We’ve already seen, I think, some of the things that are coming down, and I guarantee you they regret the hell out of what they did, and probably didn’t even think they were doing anything wrong,” Riley said. “That’s why it’s so important when it comes to, we get this speech every year about it, about not giving any tips, not talking about injuries and stuff like that.”

Then, being someone of strong opinion, Riley did go tangential — and rightly so — in mentioning the partnerships of leagues with outlets that facilitate the type of proposition bets that Rozier is alleged to have impacted.

“You get in bed with gambling sites and they advertise on your network,” he said. “It seems like everything’s OK, and it seems like to me that’s a contradiction of what we’re trying to do from a purity standpoint, at least from that standpoint.

“So I think all those things have to be sort of addressed. But as we see all of this stuff play out, we’ll find out, soon, what’s going to come of it.

“But I think it’s the worst thing that any player, coach, official, I don’t care who it is — what are you thinking of? What are you thinking of?”

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To the credit of Riley and the Heat, Rozier’s being out of this season’s mix was not raised as a reason for the slide out of the playoffs.

But the impact for the Heat was real, from the dead money on the cap, the roster spot that was in limbo, the first-round pick still due the Hornets in 2027 or ’28.

Still, not as real as the impact going forward for all of sports, leagues that want to profit from wagering with integrity in the balance.

IN THE LANE

UNLIKELY OPTION: As the Heat continue to seek a leading man, speculation began in the immediate wake of the Denver Nuggets’ first-round playoff demise about Nikola Jokic, considering the three-time MVP essentially has one year left on his Denver contract, then with a player option for 2027-28. That basically puts him in the same position as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. The difference is Jokic does not appear in any way interested in Antetokounmpo-like gamesmanship. “I still want to be Nuggets forever,” Jokic said after Denver’s season-ending 110-98 Thursday night loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. While Jokic declined a three-year, $207 million extension last summer, that decision ostensibly was due to the ability to get a larger extension this summer, one that could be worth $293 million over four seasons (for a moment allow that to marinate).

STILL GOING: At 36, Hassan Whiteside is still doing it with blocks, albeit in China. The former Heat center recently was named Defensive Player of the Year in the Chinese Basketball Association for his play with the Shanghai Sharks, becoming the first import player ever to take the honor. With the Sharks, Whiteside set a league high this season with 26 rebounds in a game against Guangdong. In his 32 regular-season games, Whiteside, in only 14.8 minutes per game (with minute limitations on imports), averaged 11.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. The stint is the second in China over Whiteside’s career, previously having played for the Sichuan Blue Whales and Jiangsu Tongxi. Among Whiteside’s teammates with the Sharks this season were former NBA players Brandon Goodwin and Kenny Lofton Jr.

SPECIAL MOMENT: To appreciate the meaning of his playoff role in the Orlando Magic’s opening-round series against the Detroit Pistons is to appreciate that former Heat forward Jamal Cain was raised in Pontiac, Mich., a former home of the Pistons and played collegiately in the same area at Oakland University. “I put some of my friends and family in a tough spot because they’ve been ride-or-die Pistons fans,” Cain told the Athletic. “But it’s definitely a special moment, especially going back to Detroit and having my whole family come out to watch me play, especially in the playoffs. I mean, words can’t describe how I feel, honestly.”

POSTSEASON REALITY: Although not pointedly, Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson attempted to put his team’s competitive first-round series against the Toronto Raptors into perspective, after last year’s opening-round sweep of the Heat, in the most lopsided series in terms of scoring margin in NBA history. “Sweeping Miami wasn’t normal,” Atkinson said, as his team regained its footing against the scrappy Raptors.

NUMBER

$16 million. Salary of former Heat guard Duncan Robinson with the Detroit Pistons for next season, with only $2 million guaranteed. The full guarantee deadline is not until Jan. 10, 2027. The Heat had a similar guarantee decision with Robinson last summer, opting to move off of Robinson’s salary. Robinson also has a non-guaranteed 2027-28 season on his Pistons contract, at $15.2 million.