The Brooklyn Nets made an interesting trade earlier this summer when they acquired forward Haywood Highsmith from the Miami Heat along with a second-round pick in exchange for essentially nothing. Brooklyn has been operating this entire season as a team that could use its cap space to get players and/or draft picks from other teams and this deal could be part of another deal.
“Highsmith, as a good, solid role player, I think there’s a decent chance that later on in the offseason, I would expect Brooklyn is going to get a pick for him at some point,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie said during an episode of the “Game Theory” podcast. Vecenie, along with his co-host Bryce Simon, were discussing underrated trade targets this offseason, but began the podcast by discussing the Highsmith trade.
“I think that when Brooklyn inevitably this summer or this spring or in two weeks… moves Haywood Highsmith like they probably get a pick for him would be my guess,” Vecenie continued. The good news for the Nets is that Highsmith should be enough of a contributor to the team that he should be able to fill some important minutes at one of the deepest spots on the roster at forward at the very least.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported some time after the trade that Highsmith could draw trade interest as the 2025-26 campaign approaches the deadline and that could be Brooklyn getting some valuable in return. Despite Highsmith having value as a depth wing, the Heat traded him so that they could avoid the luxury tax, but he is coming off one of his best seasons in the league at the same time.
Highsmith, 28, is coming off a 2024-25 season with the Heat in which he averaged 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 38.2% from three-point land in 74 games played. Time will tell how high Highsmith will be on the depth chart, but once he recovers from his knee surgery, he should be able to play some minutes for head coach Jordi Fernandez and company.