MIAMI — Terry Rozier, who is facing federal charges related to a gambling operation, has been waived by the Miami Heat in an expected and procedural move that allows the team to sign another player to its roster before the postseason.

Rozier was with the Heat for one game this season, that being the opener at Orlando on Oct. 22. He did not play in that game.

He was arrested by federal officials at the team hotel the following morning on charges that he offered information to help people win bets on his stat totals in a 2023 game when was with the Charlotte Hornets.

The Heat traded for Rozier in January 2024, unaware of the gambling probe. Miami sent Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick to Charlotte in return for Rozier; last month, the Hornets wound up giving Miami a second-round pick in this year’s draft, a largely unprecedented move presumably to close the dispute over what wasn’t disclosed at the time of the original deal.

March Madness good for Big Ten

The Big Ten Conference amassed nearly $70 million from NCAA distributions that will be paid for team appearances and performances in the 2026 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.

That is by far the most among conferences, largely because the Big Ten swept the national championships — Michigan won the men’s and UCLA the women’s — and had Illinois advance to the men’s Final Four.

The NCAA, which has multibillion-dollar broadcast deals for the two tournaments, since 1991 has rewarded conferences for their number of tournament bids and how far those teams advance in the men’s tournament. A similar system for the women’s tournament began in 2025.

For this year’s tournaments, nine men’s teams and 12 women’s teams from the Big Ten combined to make at least $69.4 million, with $63 million coming from the men’s side. The Southeastern Conference, which had 10 teams in each tournament, totaled at least $56.2 million ($50.4 million for men, $5.8 million for women).

Distributions will total at least $42.9 million for the Big 12, $34.2 million for the Atlantic Coast Conference and $22.2 million for the Big East.

The NCAA sends payments directly to the conferences, which distribute the money among their teams according to their policies. Payments for the 2026 tournament will begin in April 2027.

Former Dolphin signs with 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco 49ers agreed to a one-year deal with free agent cornerback Jack Jones.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said the two sides agreed to the deal after Jones had a visit at the team’s facility. The 28-year-old Jones was originally a fourth-round pick by New England in 2022 and spent time last season with Miami, where he started all 17 games with one interception, two forced fumbles and six passes defensed.

Jones has had his most success playing press man coverage, which should fit well in new coordinator Raheem Morris’ scheme with the 49ers.

Spartans guard preps for draft

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears has announced he is declaring for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.

He made the announcement Friday on social media. Fears led Michigan State in scoring and the nation in assists per game. Fears was an Associated Press All-Big Ten first-team selection and an AP All-America second-team pick after averaging 15 points and 9.4 assists per game in his third season with the Spartans.

Underclassmen can maintain their eligibility by applying to the NBA’s undergraduate advisory committee and withdrawing from the draft by May 27 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. A player would lose his eligibility if he hires an NCAA-certified agent before applying to the advisory committee.

The Associated Press