The Miami Heat will have a busy summer and free agency since, in addition to players like Thomas Bryant, Kevin Love, and Caleb Martin choosing not to exercise their player options, they also hope to retain Haywood Highsmith as a star.
But, a number of other teams in the league are anticipated to show interest in him, so it won’t be an easy procedure.
NBA free agency is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. (EST) on Sunday. Teams from Miami and elsewhere will try to convince Highsmith, 27, to sign a new contract. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, there is “stiff competition” from other teams in the league, including the Philadelphia 76ers, who are rivals in the Eastern Conference, and others, even if a deal with the Heat seems inevitable.
On the free market, Miami is anticipated to face fierce competition for Highsmith’s services, according to Scotto. League sources tell HoopsHype that “teams with significant cap space, like the Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, and Philadelphia 76ers, are expected to register interest in Highsmith once free agency begins.” “There are multiple teams that have mid-level non-taxpayer exceptions available,” Scotto said. League insiders tell HoopsHype that teams like the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and possibly the Golden State Warriors—whose fate would hinge on the careers of Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul, and Klay Thompson—are also anticipated to express interest in signing Highsmith.
According to Scotto, Highsmith’s estimated worth is “around $13 million,” which is more than his first estimate of “$8–10 million annually range.” As a reliable defensive player who can also make three-point shots, he has become an important member of the team’s rotation. Scotto stated that Highsmith’s free agency value might bring him as much as the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, or about $13 million, considering the anticipated interest in him. “His yearly salary was previously estimated by ESPN’s Bobby Marks to be between $8 and $10 million.”
Along with guys like Duncan Robinson, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, and Caleb Martin, Highsmith is another one of the many undrafted players the Heat have discovered and nurtured into a reliable player in the league. But according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald, the Heat and Highsmith have had some early talks regarding a comeback.
Chiang stated, “According to league sources, there have already been discussions between the Heat and Highsmith regarding a potential new contract since NBA teams were allowed to begin negotiating with their own impending free agents on June 18.” “Highsmith is interested in staying with the Heat, and the Heat is interested in having him back.”
Highsmith has said before he wants to stay in Miami
Whatever the deal might be from other teams, it seems likely that Highsmith will return to the Heat as he has said on numerous occasions that he wants to stay. He would echo these same sentiments in his exit interview where he talked about the key reason being his family and daughter who live in Miami.
“I definitely want to stay in Miami,” Highsmith said. “I love being here. My family lives here, my daughter lives here. So that’s a big priority for me, just to be around my daughter a lot. But I just got to figure it out and just take my time and understand it’s going to work itself out and everything happens for a reason.”
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 said via an interview with HoopsHype. “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.”
In terms of what has happened so far for the Heat besides the NBA Draft in terms of crucial players that have been on the team, Josh Richardson opted into his player option while the aforementioned Love, Martin, and Bryant did not. Love is expected to return to Miami on a new deal that could benefit the team while the other two seem likely to not return.
Other than Highsmith, Martin has been the other intriguing aspect of their offseason where he seemed likely to decline his player option and go for a bigger payday as was the expectation before official reports Mentioning such players before as Vincent and Strus, Martin could very well follow in their footsteps and get a better deal with another team.
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