Haywood Highsmith doubles down on wanting to remain with Heat

During his exit interview, forward Haywood Highsmith expressed interest in returning to Miami, where his family lives, stating that a priority of his is to be “around my daughter a lot.”

On Friday, in an exclusive interview with NBA reporter Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Highsmith, an unrestricted free agent, doubled down on interest in returning to the Heat, who he’s spent the last three seasons with.

“I’d love to stay in Miami for sure,” he said. “I feel like I’ve built a great life out here. My daughter lives out here as well. If all things are close, I definitely would love to stay in Miami, but we’ll see when that time comes. I’ll still be the same person no matter how much I get paid or whatever happens. I’ll still be in the gym locked in and trying to win a championship.”

Haywood Highsmith via @hoopshype

“I’d love to stay in Miami for sure.”

“I’m an elite defender… my 3-point percentage went up, and I had career-highs in points per game and shooting percentage. I feel like with my role in this league, I can be an elite 3-and-D player.” pic.twitter.com/7c4kQrXJ6f

— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) May 24, 2024

Highsmith, 27, is coming off his best season as a professional, averaging 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.8 steals in 20.7 minutes across 66 games, including 26 starts. He shot 46.5 percent from the floor, 39.6 percent from 3-point range–albeit on 2.9 attempts with a 3-point rate of 58.4 percent–and 63.9 percent from the free-throw line. For his career, his averages are 4.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 17.6 minutes on 44.3/36.8/53.5 shooting splits; for perspective, those averages would equal out to 9.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per 36 minutes.

He has consistently been one of Miami’s point-of-attack defenders, which is a low bar. But the 6-foot-5 wing has utilized his 7-foot wingspan to contain ballhandlers, generate myriad deflections and close defensive possessions on the glass for the Heat.

Highsmith, who began his career in the Philadelphia 76ers organization, is coming off a three-year, $3.9 million contract that was non-guaranteed in the final two seasons. Miami eventually guaranteed both years with cap hits of $1.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

Since Highsmith’s been with the organization for three seasons without leaving in free agency, the Heat will own his bird rights this offseason. Thus, they can sign him up to any amount to the max.

Miami’s in a complicated situation with its salary cap. If you account for Tyler Herro’s $2.5 million in unlikely bonuses–which you have to for cap calculations–and its No. 15 pick (~$4.2 million), it is less than $500K away from the second apron.

That’s assuming all of the player options (Caleb Martin, Kevin Love, Josh Richardson, Thomas Bryant) are exercised before the new league year, in addition to Orlando Robinson’s $2.1 million contract getting guaranteed. Miami can still free up salary if it pleases to so it doesn’t have to exceed that ultra-onerous second apron.

That may include Highsmith receiving a Caleb Martin-like contract from two offseasons ago when he signed for three years, $20.4 million, which had cap hits of $6.5 million, $6.8 million and $7.1 (player option for ’24-25), respectively.

“Humbly, I’m grateful to be in a position like this. It doesn’t matter how much I make if it’s $10 or $15 million per year,” Highsmith told Scotto. “I’ll push myself to be the hardest worker on the team, continue to get better, be a contributor by guarding the best player, knock down shots, do what it takes to win, stay in my role, and help win championships. 

“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, and nothing’s going to change as far as whatever I get paid. I’ll still be a hard worker, get in the gym early, and put that extra work in to help the team win games and a championship.”

What do you think Highsmith’s future with Heat looks like? Let us know in the comments!

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