One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. It is a saying as old as time. In the NBA, that saying carries plenty of weight. We’ve seen players who were not a good fit on one team excel with another. In this case, however, the Miami Heat dumped Haywood Highsmith to get salary relief. Now, with the Brooklyn Nets, he will likely receive a buyout soon. The Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks look like logical suitors for the three-and-D forward when he secures a buyout. Here is why.
Knicks and Warriors Can Benefit From Heat Salary Dump Trade
First, let’s talk about why the Nets should talk with Highsmith about a possible buyout. As a young and rebuilding team, they do not need his services. They needed the draft pick they secured from the Heat to stockpile assets. Yes, they can wait, try to up his value, and trade him at the deadline.
But the problem is the Nets have more than 15 players on guaranteed contracts. Per NBA rules, teams can have up to 15 players on guaranteed contracts, plus three two-way contracts. They can carry up to 21 players to training camp, but on opening night, the roster has a limit at 15 players.
For the Nets, it is better to have the young guys on the roster and give them time to develop instead of playing veterans and trying to up their value. Highsmith is a 28-year-old player on an expiring contract and he would probably love to play with a team that has him in its future plans.
Why the Knicks Would Love Highsmith?
Right now, the Knicks have only 13 players under contract for the 2025-26 season. They have two open roster spots, and getting a guy like Highsmith can help their depth chart. Last season, he averaged 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in little more than 24 minutes of action. He is a good defender, particularly on-ball defender, and can knock down some shots. He averaged 3.1 three-point attempts and converted them at 38.2% efficiency. He can earn some spot-up minutes in the Knicks’ rotation. New York as a team needs versatile defenders, and Highsmith fits that bill.
They do not have much to offer in terms of money. But if he proves worthy during the season, he can hope for a long-term contract next summer.
Why the Warriors Would Love Highsmith?
The Warriors are probably the team with the fewest players on its roster for next season. Right now, they have 10 players on a guaranteed contract for next season. That does not include Jonathan Kuminga, who has yet to decide whether he accepts a qualifying offer, signs an extension, or maybe gets traded.
With so many open roster spots, the Warriors are not in a hurry. They have to settle the Kuminga situation first before they can move on. There are rumors that they will sign Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton, but everything is on hold until Kuminga makes a move.
Like the Knicks, the Warriors would also benefit from Highsmith’s versatile defense and ability to knock down threes. Playing alongside Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler provides plenty of open looks. And if he hits them at around 40% efficiency, the Warriors will be happy. They have a bit more money to throw around, but it depends on what happens with Kuminga.
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