Haywood Highsmith Traded to Nets, Heat Get 2026 2nd-Round Draft Pick

Haywood Highsmith reportedly is on the move.

The Miami Heat traded the forward and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in return for a protected 2026 second-round pick.

Highsmith went undrafted out of Wheeling in 2018 and began his career with the Philadelphia 76ers' G League squad, later spending some time playing overseas. He landed on the Heat during the 2021-22 campaign and established himself as a valuable role player by the 2022-23 season.

Last year, Highsmith put up 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest, shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from deep while playing 24.6 minutes per game. He started 42 games out of the 74 he played in Miami.

While Highsmith had been solid with the Heat, Miami went under the luxury tax and can reduce its salary bill by sending him to Brooklyn, a team more than capable of taking on some additional salaries.

Miami has finished as a luxury tax team in each of the last two seasons, but now has the chance to avoid the repeater tax it would owe if it exceeded the luxury tax in four consecutive seasons.

The Heat reached the playoffs a season ago despite trading star Jimmy Butler halfway through the year. Whether Miami is hoping to stay competitive or shift into rebuild mode this year is unclear, but it clearly wants to avoid paying the luxury tax again.

Since the Heat did not get a player in return for Highsmith, they're now down to 13 players on the roster and can add two more players for the 2025-26 campaign.