“ It was a long road to get to this point. » The road to Haywood Highsmith is certainly unusual, but the Heat have seen others. That of the undrafted player leaving his small university (Wheeling in Division II), passing through the G-League or even the German championship before finding his place in the NBA, in Miami.
“ They gave me an opportunity. So I'm very grateful to this organization for bringing me in, for putting me through this development system “, displays the winger, quoted by the Sun Sentinel and who, after three years in Florida, finds himself at a pivotal moment.
“Free agent”, will Haywood Highsmith find common ground with management to extend his lease? Or follow the path of players of the same profile as him, Gabe Vincent and Max Strus? Also undrafted, they preferred to leave the Heat for larger contracts, respectively at the Lakers and the Cavs.
“ I can't make my decision based on what I like or don't like. I have to make the decision that is best for me. Gabe and Max loved being here, I love it too. They didn't stay, so I don't know what awaits me. Nothing is on the table, we'll see », displays the 27-year-old player, who would like to stay and whose “ priority » is to be near his daughter.
A happy competitor in Miami
But the salary question will also be a factor for him. This season, he earned just under $2 million. Which may not seem like much for a rotation player who is always useful for his defense and his ability to penalize from afar (nearly 40% from 3-point range this season). Even if he suffered in terms of skill against the Celtics in the first round (only 5 points on average at 19% from distance).
The concern for him is that the Heat also has to manage the Caleb Martin case, who is expected to collect a bundle of millions of dollars. So not sure that the Heat can keep both men.
“ I would say there is a family feeling here. We really feel like family. It's all about winning, finding ways to win a title, finding ways to compete for the title. It's not about 'tanking' or 'load management', none of that. They only think about winning and I respect that as a competitor », Finishes Haywood Highsmith, who must therefore wait before seeing things more clearly.
| Haywood Highsmith | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 5 | 8 | 40.0 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 19 | 9 | 34.8 | 32.1 | 40.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2.3 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 54 | 18 | 43.1 | 33.9 | 46.4 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 4.4 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 66 | 21 | 46.5 | 39.6 | 63.9 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 6.1 |
| Total | 144 | 18 | 44.3 | 36.8 | 53.5 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 4.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
