The Miami Heat have deliberately chosen to take the patient approach to fill out the final two-three standard roster spots to conclude their offseason work.
Ideally, Miami is hoping for this patience to ultimately net them Dallas Mavericks’ sharpshooter Klay Thompson— who is still under contract and hasn’t shaken free yet to secure a rumored buyout. It’s been reported that a trade would be Dallas’ preference, but nothing has materialized from that either. Of course, other proven veterans like DeMar DeRozan and Bradley Beal still remain options in unrestricted free agency as well.
The Heat have about $7 million left of their mid-level exception to utilize. The other signing or two, depending on if they unlikely opt to fill all 15 spots rather than their usual 14, would be veteran minimum additions. And one more target that fits that discounted price tag has recently hit the open market in former developed Heat forward Haywood Highsmith.
Haywood Highsmith shot 39% from 3-point range across his previous two seasons in Miami.
Highsmith was traded from Miami in a salary cutting move in the 2025 offseason to the Brooklyn Nets. After dealing with injury recovery during his limited time with the Nets, he was eventually waived. He joined the Phoenix Suns shortly after as a free agent midseason.
Now the Suns have also opted to waive the 29-year-old wing, thus becoming an unrestricted free agent for the second time this calendar year. It’s unclear whether Miami will have interest in a reunion with Highsmith, but he does fill a need for this current roster— especially for the value at a veteran minimum price tag.
He is familiar with Miami’s system and was one of their undrafted success stories in recent years. Highsmith developed into a reliable 3 and D rotation player under coach Erik Spoelstra, averaging nearly 39% from deep in his combined 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns with the Heat. Highsmith was often relegated into defending every opposing team’s top perimeter play and played that role well.
Would you be interested in a reunion with the “Locksmith”? Let us know in the comments below!
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No they shouldn’t they should keep moving forward
Bradley Beal to Clippers
dd or klay need one of those guys or else wait for feb trade or next year for jewelry.pelle cant be our starting 2 g with dav at pg thats not good enough.blazers have ja dame dont need jrue
We really can’t afford Jrue.
buy out hes got greek here chance for jewelry send them fontecchio jovic dru .im surprised pat never went after ja he wanted to come here
You think they’re going to buy out his $35m or that he would accept a much lower amount? I don’t.
Ja is intriguing, but he has 2 years remaining on his contract at an average of $43m, he’s a terrible shooter from distance, a poor defender, questionable attitude and off court antics, and has missed an average of 35 games a year. Other than that, he’s fine.
.hes got a russ type game career 22 pts 46%fg.has missed lots games lately.if hes lost his explosiveness which russ never did hes useless if not good be a good player still.we need to upgrade our bc prob have to wait til next year .that wiggy 30 was a bit of an overpayment and that jovic deal was a fireable offense so here we sit with a great great player.a good player a few above average players port wig and lots of ok mediocre players.and niko.little short still for my 4th.get dd or and klay im visiting jeweler for ring size.im more looking forward to heat season than dolphins season
Yep, that’s a wake up call. We couldn’t match the Clippers offer. But, it shows how we could miss out on all our targeted players. We are in a tough spot, without much salary to give out. We may be unable to sit back and wait to act much longer.
No. Look ahead unless it’s Duncan and we’re not getting Klay.
I wouldn’t hate HH, but more like a last resort than someone they should urgently sign.