The Miami Heat rushed the Haywood Highsmith trade to the Brooklyn Nets. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Earlier this month, the Miami Heat traded Haywood Highsmith to the Brooklyn Nets to get under the luxury tax. The Nets are the only team in the NBA with remaining cap space, so they did not have to send back any salary to execute the trade. However, it did come at the expense of the Heat’s 2032 second-round pick for a top-55 protected 2026 second-rounder that won’t convey.
Highsmith, 28, recently underwent meniscus surgery that was expected to keep him out for two months. But the Heat felt it was necessary to trade him now instead of toward the deadline — where the opportunity of salary dumping him for nothing may not have arose.
But according to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, despite Highsmith’s injury, while a lot can happen over the next six months, the possibility of Brooklyn flipping him for greater value is likely.
“I fully expect, furthermore, that we will be speaking often about Highsmith after Dec. 15,” Fischer wrote Thursday. “He remains immediately trade-eligible as we speak, but that date is the unofficial start to the NBA’s in-season trade frenzy, with the majority of free agents who signed new deals this summer becoming trade-eligible then.
“It’s no secret that his new team has no plans to be competitive this season. Brooklyn will continue to operate as a salary-dumping destination and/or three-team trade facilitator in hopes of stockpiling more draft capital. And Brooklyn’s phone certainly figures to ring with interest in Highsmith, who has shown strong 3-and-D potential when healthy and already possesses some valuable postseason experience. The 28-year-old is also crucially scheduled to earn a modest $5.6 million this season, which would make him a comfortable addition for a contender in need of such attributes … provided Highsmith plays well as a Net.
“It’s an inviting salary figure that should attract no shortage of calls.”
The Miami Heat rushed the Haywood Highsmith trade:
I said it at the time: It’s pretty bonkers that Miami traded Highsmith, who’s on an expiring $5.6 million deal, at his lowest value while lighting a match toward their second-to-last second-round pick when they didn’t need to get under the tax until April.
According to Five Reasons Sports’ Ethan Skolnick, the deal wasn’t done quickly. No team was offering draft capital for the Heat. And by the time Highsmith was hurt, Brooklyn was the only suitor knocking on the door. Though they reportedly told Miami that they “had other plans” if no deal was done now.
I still find it hard to believe that Miami wouldn’t have been able to find a trade partner in January or February to get below the tax. They were only $1.6 million above the tax before the trade. Are we sure there would’ve been no trade available? Are we sure they couldn’t have trimmed $2 million off the books without burning a second-round pick?
It’s clear the Heat didn’t want anything in return — for reasons that remain unclear. You can still get below the tax without 1.) taking a ton of salary back and 2.) burning assets in order to do so for a player who’s injured.
There are also 18 active trade exceptions that he would’ve fit into — including eight that would’ve been active post-Jan. 1. Not all of those teams may be looking to add salary. But, once again, I find it hard to believe that deal would not have been able to be made. It wouldn’t have to just be for him — it could’ve been for any of the other 12 players on roster (excluding Bam Adebayo).
Highsmith is inevitably going to get more playing time for the Nets. That changes some of the calculus on what his value may be at the deadline. But an opening day rotation won’t be the same on a night-to-night basis.
Ultimately, the Heat rushed this, and I think it was a clear asset mismanagement — even though, on paper, a Haywood Highsmith trade may not look like one.
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!