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Haywood Highsmith he’s expected to be a sought-after free agent on the market, given his 3-DD ability as a lockdown perimeter defender with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and 40 percent shooting from beyond the arc last season.
The Miami Heat have already spoken to their free agent forward Highsmith and his agent, Jerry Dianisabout the possibility of return, according to Miami Herald. However, Miami is expected to have strong competition for Highsmith’s services in 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 a forward Miles Bridgesand the 76ers are prioritizing free agency recruitment Paul Georgeand any player after that on his board is waiting.
Several teams have mid-level tax free agents available, such as the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors that are likely to happen in the future. Clay Thompson, Chris Paulagain Andrew Wiggins are expected to show interest in pursuing Highsmith, league sources told HoopsHype.
Given the expected interest in Highsmith, his free agency value would put him on par with a mid-major free agent, around $13 million. Earlier, ESPN’s Bobby Marks target Highsmith is in the $8-10 million annual range.
For more on Highsmith, check out his appearance on The HoopsHype Podcast, where he discusses his journey from D-II Player of the Year to NBA player, Heat Culture, Erik Spoelstrathe top players they guard, his upcoming free agency, and more by clicking here.
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