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Haywood Highsmith He is expected to become a highly sought-after free agent on the market, given his 3-and-D ability as a shutdown perimeter defender with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and 40 percent shooting from beyond the arc last season.
The Miami Heat have already spoken with free agent forward Highsmith and his agent, Jerry Dianison the possibility of a return, according to the The Miami Herald. However, Miami is expected to They have tough competition for Highsmith’s services on the open market.
Teams with significant cap space, including the Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers, are expected to register interest in Highsmith once free agency begins, league sources told HoopsHype.
The Hornets will try to re-sign the forward Mile Bridgesand the 76ers are prioritizing recruiting in free agency paul georgewith any player after that on their board waiting.
Several teams with mid-level non-taxpayer exceptions available, such as the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and potentially the Golden State Warriors depending on the future of Klay Thompson, cris pabloand Andrew Wiggins They are also expected to show interest in pursuing Highsmith, league sources told HoopsHype.
Given the expected interest in Highsmith, his free agent value could reach the mid-range of the non-tax-paying exception, around $13 million. Previously, ESPN’s Bobby Marks projected Highsmith in the range of $8 to $10 million annually.
For more on Highsmith, check out his appearance on The HoopsHype Podcast where he discussed his journey from D-II Player of the Year to NBA player, Heat Culture. Erik SpoelstraThe best players he has protected, his upcoming free agency and more by by clicking here.