Haywood Highsmith was traded from the Miami Heat to the Brooklyn Nets so Miami could get under the luxury tax. The Nets had remaining cap space and therefore did not need to send back salary; Miami exchanged a 2032 second-round pick for a top-55 protected 2026 second-rounder that will not convey. Highsmith recently underwent meniscus surgery expected to sideline him about two months. Miami opted to trade him now rather than risk no return at the deadline. Brooklyn plans to operate as a salary-dumping destination and likely will explore flipping Highsmith for draft capital or other assets once he is trade-eligible and healthy.
"I fully expect, furthermore, that we will be speaking often about Highsmith after Dec. 15," Fischer wrote Thursday. "He remains immediately trade-eligible as we speak, but that date is the unofficial start to the NBA's in-season trade frenzy, with the majority of free agents who signed new deals this summer becoming trade-eligible then."
"It's no secret that his new team has no plans to be competitive this season. Brooklyn will continue to operate as a salary-dumping destination and/or three-team trade facilitator in hopes of stockpiling more draft capital. And Brooklyn's phone certainly figures to ring with interest in Highsmith, who has shown strong 3-and-D potential when healthy and already possesses some valuable postseason experience. The 28-year-old is also crucially scheduled to earn a modest $5.6 million this season, which would make him a comfortable addition for a contender in need of such attributes ... provided Highsmith plays well as a Net.""It's an inviting salary figure that should attract no shortage of calls."
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