Warriors predicted to reunite Jimmy Butler with $10.8 million former Heat teammate via buyout originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
While the Golden State Warriors’ buyout season won’t be as exciting as their trade season, it should still be viewed as a golden opportunity for the franchise to take their roster to an elevated level.
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Blue Man Hoop’s Peter O’Keefe believes that reuniting Jimmy Butler with his 6-foot-5 former Miami Heat teammate should be a move worth considering.
“Haywood Highsmith could be a prime buyout target for the Warriors,” O’Keefe wrote Tuesday.
“After being traded from the Miami Heat to the Nets in the offseason, Highsmith never played a game for the franchise following meniscus surgery. He was waived immediately after the deadline, giving the veteran forward an opportunity to enter free agency and join a playoff-contending team.”
“For a team who lost Jimmy Butler to a season-ending knee injury last month, and who just traded Jonathan Kuminga away in a deal for the 7-foot-2 Kristaps Porzingis, Golden State currently lack options at either forward position.”
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Highsmith has yet to appear in an NBA contest this season due to a knee injury, which is likely a red flag for the Warriors.
Still, with Highsmith’s proven playoff success alongside Butler (the two helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals in 2023) and ability to play serviceable basketball on both ends (he averaged 6.5 points and 0.9 steals with the Heat this season while shooting 45.8% from the field and 38.2% from three).
Haywood is an intriguing buyout target for the Warriors, to say the least.
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