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Had meniscus surgery, Heat figured they are better off ducking tax, terrible return for the Nets IMO.
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Damn. He looked good for them whenever I’d see him played.

Seems like 3 way trade in the making. Miami could had brought him out to dodge tax?

Dumping Highsmith's $5.6M leaves Miami a mere $1.4M over the tax line with 1 open roster spot. Makes financial sense especially if they really don't expect to contend.

I'm a bit surprised that it wasn't Fontecchio (a.k.a. Tec) who was salary dumped because he makes enough ($8.3M) that Miami could have ducked the luxury tax completely, and in a vacuum I've got Highsmith as a much better player than Tec. Tec might yet be moved (at the deadline?) to get under the tax and try out a few more minimum salary prospects though.

I just was told Highsmith was liked a lot by the team.

But I’m surprised it cost a 2nd to dump him honestly. Cheap useful enough bench piece. Should be some teams offering Brooklyn a second and more money for him imo..

kobe_vs_jordan wrote:Seems like 3 way trade in the making. Miami could had brought him out to dodge tax?

I don’t think he would’ve given anything up in a buyout? He had no reason to, especially since he’s out until November with a meniscus injury.

This was a great deal for Brooklyn. Highsmith is a good contributor, especially in tough games. Surprised it cost a 2nd too, but he is injured.

ESPN reporting it as the Heat getting all the way under the tax.

OutsidetheNBA wrote:ESPN reporting it as the Heat getting all the way under the tax.

Yeah, I don't see that. Miami can't keep 2 open spots either, so some of his $5.6m is going into signing another player, maybe Horford?





LOL

gom wrote:

OutsidetheNBA wrote:ESPN reporting it as the Heat getting all the way under the tax.

Yeah, I don't see that. Miami can't keep 2 open spots either, so some of his $5.6m is going into signing another player, maybe Horford?





LOL

They're $4.2m under the tax with 13 guys. Should be enough to sign a 14th now, and a 15th later.

Scoot McGroot wrote:

gom wrote:

OutsidetheNBA wrote:ESPN reporting it as the Heat getting all the way under the tax.

Yeah, I don't see that. Miami can't keep 2 open spots either, so some of his $5.6m is going into signing another player, maybe Horford?





LOL

They're $4.2m under the tax with 13 guys. Should be enough to sign a 14th now, and a 15th later.

It looks like 1.394 over according to Sportrac. Is there something they have wrong?

brackdan70 wrote:

Scoot McGroot wrote:

gom wrote:
Yeah, I don't see that. Miami can't keep 2 open spots either, so some of his $5.6m is going into signing another player, maybe Horford?





LOL

They're $4.2m under the tax with 13 guys. Should be enough to sign a 14th now, and a 15th later.

It looks like 1.394 over according to Sportrac. Is there something they have wrong?

Not sure, but sun-sentinel is also reporting they are under the tax. I will have to break out a spreadsheet soon:

https://archive.is/rw5Rf

Here too:

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/08/heat-to-trade-haywood-highsmith-to-nets.html

I just calculated $183,673,248.00 after Pelle Larsson's guarantee (opening day) for 13 players. I never updated luxury tax limit though: 187,895,000 <== doh

Egor Demin / Nolan Traore / Ben Saraf
Terance Mann / Dariq Whitehead / Keon Jonson
Haywood Highsmith / Drake Powell / Tyrese Martin
Michael Porter Jr. / Noah Clowney / Jalen Wilson
Nicolas Claxton / Day'Ron Sharpe / Danny Wolf

JimmyPlopper wrote:Egor Demin / Nolan Traore / Ben Saraf
Terance Mann / Dariq Whitehead / Keon Jonson
Haywood Highsmith / Drake Powell / Tyrese Martin
Michael Porter Jr. / Noah Clowney / Jalen Wilson
Nicolas Claxton / Day'Ron Sharpe / Danny Wolf

I hope they finish top-5 in the NBA. I want that second round pick!

And the Nets flip him for a useless expiring and a second mid-season.

Highsmith is a solid player on a good contract, but this was his last year on that contract, and if they couldn't come to terms on an extension, it was worth it to duck the tax from the Heat's perspective. Rozier, Powell, and Fontecchio come off the books next year so they can add a player ot two, still stay under the tax, and turn off the repeater tax.

Also, Highsmith will be 29 in January, and I suspect the Heat are more than a single season away from contending.

jbk1234 wrote:Highsmith is a solid player on a good contract, but this was his last year on that contract, and if they couldn't come to terms on an extension, it was worth it to duck the tax from the Heat's perspective. Rozier, Powell, and Fontecchio come off the books next year so they can add a player ot two, still stay under the tax, and turn off the repeater tax.

Also, Highsmith will be 29 in January, and I suspect the Heat are more than a single season away from contending.

After the drubbing in the first round, I'm surprised our guys didn't take up bowling in the offseason (the "pin" position).

JimmyPlopper wrote:Egor Demin / Nolan Traore / Ben Saraf
Terance Mann / Dariq Whitehead / Keon Jonson
Haywood Highsmith / Drake Powell / Tyrese Martin
Michael Porter Jr. / Noah Clowney / Jalen Wilson
Nicolas Claxton / Day'Ron Sharpe / Danny Wolf

This looks like a G League roster with some NBA players on injury assignment.

brackdan70 wrote:

Scoot McGroot wrote:

gom wrote:
Yeah, I don't see that. Miami can't keep 2 open spots either, so some of his $5.6m is going into signing another player, maybe Horford?





LOL

They're $4.2m under the tax with 13 guys. Should be enough to sign a 14th now, and a 15th later.

It looks like 1.394 over according to Sportrac. Is there something they have wrong?

They removed Highsmith from the books up top, but didn’t subtract his salary down below from the totals.

It often takes them a couple days after a deal to get all their pages lined up as I think they change everything manually? It doesn’t seem to be database/automatically derived.

oldncreaky wrote:Dumping Highsmith's $5.6M leaves Miami a mere $1.4M over the tax line with 1 open roster spot. Makes financial sense especially if they really don't expect to contend.

I'm a bit surprised that it wasn't Fontecchio (a.k.a. Tec) who was salary dumped because he makes enough ($8.3M) that Miami could have ducked the luxury tax completely, and in a vacuum I've got Highsmith as a much better player than Tec. Tec might yet be moved (at the deadline?) to get under the tax and try out a few more minimum salary prospects though.

DeRozan for Rozier saves the Heat 1.8 million.