Free Agent Haywood Highsmith Returns to NBA With New Deal Out West

He hasn't played a game since last season, recovering from knee surgery, but free agent Haywood Highsmith has landed himself a multiyear deal to bring his elite 3-and-D talents to the Phoenix Suns.

Highsmith had been a regular member of the Miami Heat rotation for the past 3+ seasons before the knee injury forced him to go under the knife last summer. He was shortly thereafter traded by Miami to the Brooklyn Nets in order to get under the tax line for the 2025-26 season, as well as to create roster flexibility.

He never appeared in a game for the Nets this season, but he was getting close before the Nets waived him on Feb. 5th in order to clear room on the roster after acquiring Ochai Agbaji from the Toronto Raptors at the deadline.

Now healthy and ready to play, Highsmith considered signing with multiple contenders before choosing Phoenix, Charania reported. He'll add defensive versatility and shooting to the Suns' wing rotation.

The 6'5" forward went undrafted in 2018, then after a handful of games with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2018-19 season, he played in the G League and in Germany for a couple of years, before latching on with Miami in 2021-22.

As a versatile 3-and-D man, he's capable of guarding multiple positions with a seven-foot wingspan. He provided elite perimeter defense and three-point shooting for the Heat, averaging 20 minutes a night over his time there for four years. He was a starter on many occasions and last year averaged 6.5 points and over 38% from three.