The Miami Heat have traded forward Haywood Highsmith and an unprotected 2032 second-round draft pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Brooklyn’s top-55 protected 2026 second-round selection, the teams announced Friday.
The move pushes Miami below the luxury-tax threshold. Before the deal, the club sat approximately $1.6 million above the tax line with 14 guaranteed contracts. Moving Highsmith’s $5.616 million expiring salary gives the Heat nearly $4 million of tax room. Miami still needs at least one more standard contract to reach the 14-player minimum but is expected to keep its 15th roster slot open at the start of the season to stay under the tax and reset its repeater clock.
Brooklyn absorbs Highsmith’s contract into available cap space and gains the future second-rounder while sending out a pick that will only convey if it lands 56-60 in 2026. Miami also generates a $5.616 million trade exception that can be used for up to one year.
Highsmith, 28, appeared in 74 games (42 starts) for Miami last season, averaging 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 24.6 minutes while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from three. His trade value dipped after he tore a meniscus during offseason workouts; surgery is expected to sideline him eight to ten weeks, putting his availability for opening night in doubt.
The Nets continue to leverage cap flexibility to accumulate draft assets after previously landing first-round picks in separate offseason deals involving Michael Porter Jr. and Terance Mann. Following the Highsmith trade, Brooklyn still projects to have about $22 million in cap space after accounting for Cam Thomas’ $12.1 million cap hold. Reported two-year, $12 million agreements with Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams remain unsigned; one could be finalized with the room exception, while the other would require a portion of the remaining cap room.
Source: Hoops Rumors
