Miami Heat Reportedly Make A Roster Decision

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Miami Heat are guaranteeing Haywood Highsmith's contract for the 2023-24 NBA season.

Haywood Highsmith is coming off a season where he averaged 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 43.1% from the field in 54 regular season games for the Miami Heat.          

On Thursday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Heat will guarantee Highsmith's contract for next season.   

Via Wojnarowski: "The Miami Heat are guaranteeing forward Haywood Highsmith’s contract for the 2023-2024 season, per his agent Jerry Dianis. Highsmith has a July 15 guarantee date."

The Miami Heat are guaranteeing forward Haywood Highsmith’s contract for the 2023-2024 season, per his agent Jerry Dianis. Highsmith has a July 15 guarantee date.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 13, 2023

In addition to the Heat, the 26-year-old has also spent time with the Philadelphia 76ers.   

His career averages are 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest while shooting 41.5% from the field in 78 regular season games (he has also played in 26 NBA playoff games).  

Haywood Highsmith's $1.9 million salary for this upcoming season with the Heat will become guaranteed on Saturday, as expected.

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) July 13, 2023

This past year, the Heat were the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks (in five games), New York Knicks (in six games) and Boston Celtics (in seven games) to make the NBA Finals for the second time in the previous four seasons. 

However, they ended up losing to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals (in five games). 

Highsmith played in 18 of those playoff games and averaged 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 61.5% from the field. 

Haywood Highsmith can carve a role for the Heat's roster next season regardless if a Dame trade happens or not. Already had something of it for stretches in '22-23. Improving on 34% from 3 is key. Limited opponents to 41% FG/0.77 PPP in defensive iso situations. Effective atop… pic.twitter.com/oJi35QJsR0

— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) July 13, 2023

The Heat will likely be among the best teams in the NBA once again next season. 

They have been to playoffs four seasons in a row and made the Eastern Conference Finals three times in that span (their last title was in 2013). 

More on the Miami Heat can be read here