In their latest salary dump, the Brooklyn Nets have traded a heavily protected 2026 second round pick to the Miami Heat for Haywood Highsmith, a 28-year-old 6’5” wing, and an unprotected second rounder in 2032. Highsmith, who started 42 games for the Heat last season as a 3-and-D specialist, will earn $5.6 million this season on an expiring contract. He averaged 6.5 points a game on 46/38/72 shooting splits in 74 games overall, along with 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He will be Brooklyn’s second oldest player, a couple of months younger than Terance Mann, acquired this summer in another salary dump.
Shams Charania was first with the the news…
The Nets confirmed the trade and provided details.
The 2026 second rounder sent to Miami is protected 31-55 meaning the Nets would have to finish with the fifth best record in the NBA next season for the pick to transfer. Brooklyn now has 32 picks: 19 seconds and 13 firsts, most in the league as Shams pointed out. Of the 13 firsts, nine are tradeable, also the most in the NBA.
However, there’s a question about how soon Highsmith will be ready. Eight days ago, Highsmith underwent surgery to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee which he suffered while training in Baltimore. The Heat said then that he would begin rehabilitation immediately and is expected to miss eight-to-10 weeks. The Nets training camp is expect to open in six weeks. Could the Nets waive him?
Yossi Gozlan of capsheets.com projected that the Nets currently have $22.5 million left in cap space…
Highsmith is the 11th roster player on a guaranteed standard NBA deal. The Nets also have five players on non- or partially guaranteed deals, three unsigned restricted free agents, two two-ways and one reported Exhibit 10, giving the them 22 players, one more they can bring to training camp at the end of September.
This story will be updated.