Haywood Highsmith

Heat Sign Haywood Highsmith To 10-Day Deal

FEBRUARY 15: Highsmith’s 10-day contract is now official, the Heat announced in a press release.

Highsmith’s contract will actually cover 11 days due to the All-Star break. Standard 10-day deals are required to cover either 10 days or three games, whichever comes later. Miami has two more games before the All-Star break, then doesn’t play again until February 25 — Highsmith would be eligible to play in that game before his deal expires.


FEBRUARY 14: The Heat are signing swingman Haywood Highsmith to a 10-day contract, agent Jerry Dianis told our JD Shaw (Twitter link)

Highsmith had a 10-day stint with Miami under the hardship exception in late December and early January. He appeared in four games, averaging 3.0 PPG and 1.3 RPG in 10.5 MPG. The Heat view him as a strong fit for the team’s culture.

As we noted earlier on Monday, Miami had two open roster spots after last week’s trade deadline and needed to fill at least one of them within two weeks. Highsmith’s versatility allows him to play shooting guard, small forward and power forward, something that could help Miami since the team traded KZ Okpala and still hasn’t cleared Markieff Morris.

Highsmith had a brief stint with the Sixers in 2018/19, appearing in five games for the club on a two-way contract. The 25-year-old also spent the 2020/21 season in Germany, but has otherwise played mostly for the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, since going pro in ’18. He has appeared in 17 games with the Blue Coats this season, averaging 13.6 PPG on 39% shooting from three-point range.

The 6’7” Highsmith also played on USA Basketball’s 2023 World Cup qualifying team in November.

Heat Sign Haywood Highsmith To 10-Day Contract

DECEMBER 30: Highsmith has officially signed his 10-day contract, the Heat announced in a press release. Miami also formally finalized their deals with Guy and Holman today.


DECEMBER 29: The Heat intend to sign forward Haywood Highsmith to a 10-day deal, agent Jerry Dianis tells our JD Shaw (Twitter link). The deal will be completed using a hardship exception.

Miami has been hit hard by injuries and COVID-19 as of late, resulting in a postponement of the team’s game in San Antonio on Wednesday. The Heat, who have already reportedly reached deals with Kyle Guy and Aric Holman, may need to continue adding replacement players to avoid risking any additional postponements.

Highsmith, who turned 25 earlier this month, had a brief stint with the Sixers in 2018/19, appearing in five games for the club on a two-way contract. He also spent the 2020/21 season in Germany, but has otherwise played mostly for the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, since going pro in ’18.

In 12 games (27.8 MPG) for Delaware this season, Highsmith averaged 14.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 1.1 SPG with a shooting line of .472/.391/.737. He also played on USA Basketball’s 2023 World Cup qualifying team in November.

And-Ones: Highsmith, Johnson, USA Basketball, Parsons

USA Basketball has added former Sixers two-way player Haywood Highsmith to its initial qualifying team for the 2023 World Cup, agent Jerry Dianis confirmed. Highsmith will join the team in time for group training, which is set to take place from Nov. 20-25.

Highsmith signed an Exhibit 10 deal with Philadelphia this past fall, later joining the team’s G League affiliate in Delaware. In four games with the club, he’s averaging 16 points, six rebounds and two steals, while shooting 57% from the floor and 50% from deep.

USA Basketball also recently added former NBA players Isaiah Thomas and Justin Anderson to its roster. The team’s first game is against Cuba on Nov. 28, playing in a bubble format in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • Speaking of USA Basketball, former No. 8 pick Stanley Johnson received interest to play with the team for the first window of the World Cup qualifiers, according to Marc Stein of Substack. Johnson decided not to play with the group, choosing to join the Lakers’ G League affiliate in South Bay instead. Johnson is working to fast-track a return to the NBA, according to Stein. The 25-year-old holds 371 games of NBA experience and played with Toronto last year.
  • Former NBA player Chandler Parsons is still recovering from the serious injuries he sustained during a car crash in 2020, he told TMZ Sports. Parsons, who suffered a brain injury, disc herniation and torn labrum, was allegedly hit by a drunk driver in the collision. “We’ll see,” Parsons said about a potential NBA comeback. “Working out, staying in shape, but trying to still recover from the car crash last year, so we’ll see.” Parsons last played with the Hawks during the 2019/20 season.

Sixers Sign, Waive Haywood Highsmith

In a procedural move, the Sixers signed and then waived Haywood Highsmith, tweets Derek Bodner of The Athletic. Bodner notes that Highsmith is expected to join the Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.

Highsmith, 24, is a 6’7″ wing who has seen action in five NBA games for the Sixers, playing a total of 40 minutes. He spent the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons with the Blue Coats, playing in 89 games with averages of 11.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 2.6 APG in 29.5 MPG with a .423/.338/.679 shooting line. In a follow-up tweet, Bodner adds that Highsmith played in Germany last season for the Crailsheim Merlins.

As reported last month, Highsmith received an Exhibit 10 contract, which gives players a chance to earn up to a $50K bonus if they’re waived before the start of the regular season and spend at least 60 days with the team’s G League affiliate.

Haywood Highsmith To Sign Exhibit 10 Deal With Sixers

Veteran forward Haywood Highsmith, who appeared in five games with the Sixers during the 2018/19 season, will reportedly be returning to the team this fall.

Highsmith signed last month with Vanoli Cremona, but the Italian club announced today in a press release that the 24-year-old has exercised the opt-out clause in his contract. According to Vanoli Cremona, Highsmith will be signing an Exhibit 10 deal with Philadelphia.

Highsmith, who went undrafted out of Wheeling in 2018, spent most of the first two seasons of his professional carer playing for the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers’ G League affiliate. In 89 NBAGL games (29.5 MPG), he averaged 11.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 2.6 APG on .423/.338/.679 shooting. He spent the 2020/21 season with the Crailsheim Merlins in Germany.

Since the Sixers project to have a full regular season roster, Highsmith looks like a long shot to make the 15-man squad. A return to Delaware may be in the cards for the forward, who would be eligible to earn a bonus of up to $50K if he spends at least 60 days with the Blue Coats.

Haywood Highsmith Agrees To Deal In Italy

Former Sixers wing Haywood Highsmith has agreed to a deal in principle with Vanoli Cremona in Italy, agents Jerry Dianis and Mason Ashe told Hoops Rumors.

Highsmith is expected to play Summer League in Las Vegas next month with hopes of attracting an NBA deal for the fall. The 24-year-old is coming off a successful season in Germany, where he averaged 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game for the Crailsheim Merlins.

Highsmith signed a two-way deal with the Sixers in January of 2019, appearing in five games for Philadelphia. He chose to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the club that fall despite receiving offers from the Suns and Bucks, and spent the 2019/20 season with Delaware in the G League.

Throughout two seasons in the G League, Highsmith held per-game averages of 11.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The Wheeling University product went unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Sixers Waive Miles, Koumadje, Highsmith

The Sixers are waiving Isaiah Miles, Christ Koumadje and Haywood Highsmith, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.

That will reduce their roster to 17 players. There are no surprises with these moves, as all three had non-guaranteed contracts. Trey Burke has a partially guaranteed deal, while 14 others have full guarantees to go along with Philadelphia’s two-way players.

The Sixers hold the G League rights to the trio and they’re expected to play for the Delaware Blue Coats.

Miles, who went undrafted out of St. Joe’s in 2016, has played professionally overseas during the last three years. The 6’7” forward has spent time with teams in France and Turkey, having played for Limoges CSP in 2018/19.

The 7’4″ Koumadje, a Florida State alum, played for Philadelphia’s summer league team after going undrafted. He played four seasons with the Seminoles and started all 37 games as a senior.

Highsmith, a small forward who went undrafted out of Wheeling Jesuit in 2018, signed a two-way contract with Philadelphia in January and spent the remainder of his rookie season with the 76ers and the Blue Coats.

Sixers Re-Sign Haywood Highsmith To Exhibit 10 Deal

After being waived by the team in June, former Sixers two-way player Haywood Highsmith is back under contract with Philadelphia. A league source tells JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors (Twitter link) that Highsmith has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the 76ers.

Highsmith, who went undrafted out of Wheeling Jesuit in 2018, signed a two-way contract with Philadelphia in January and spent the rest of his rookie season with the 76ers and the Delaware Blue Coats, the team’s G League affiliate. Although he appeared in just five games for the Sixers, Highsmith was a solid contributor in Delaware, averaging 12.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 2.5 APG in 46 games (32.3 MPG).

Having been released in the offseason to clear room for new two-way players Norvel Pelle and Marial Shayok, Highsmith appeared set to move on from the Sixers and nearly signed a camp contract with the Suns. However, that deal fell through, clearing the path for the forward to rejoin the 76ers.

The Sixers now have a full 20-man roster, including 14 players with fully guaranteed salaries. Trey Burke, who has a $405K partial guarantee, looks like the leading candidate to fill the 15th spot on the club’s regular season roster.

Austin Krell of The Painted Lines (Twitter link) first reported that Highsmith would be joining the Sixers for camp.

Deal Between Suns, Haywood Highsmith Falls Through

SEPTEMBER 19: The agreement between the Suns and Highsmith has fallen through, a source tells JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors (Twitter link).

SEPTEMBER 12: The Suns and Highsmith have reached an agreement on an Exhibit 10 deal, a source tells JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors (Twitter link).

SEPTEMBER 9: The Suns are expected to sign former Sixers forward Haywood Highsmith to an Exhibit 10 contract, league sources tell Gina Mizell of The Athletic (Twitter link). While the two sides appear to be moving toward a deal, nothing is official yet.

Highsmith, who went undrafted out of Wheeling Jesuit in 2018, signed a two-way contract with Philadelphia in January and spent the rest of his rookie season with the 76ers and the Delaware Blue Coats, the team’s G League affiliate.

Although he appeared in just five games for the Sixers, Highsmith was a solid contributor in Delaware, averaging 12.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 2.5 APG in 46 games (32.3 MPG). He was waived in June by Philadelphia as the club signed Norvel Pelle and Marial Shayok to fill its two-way contract slots for 2019/20.

Highsmith, who recently worked out for both the Suns and Bucks, would be the 19th player on Phoenix’s roster if he finalizes a deal with the club. Currently, the Suns are carrying 17 players on standard deals (15 guaranteed) and one on a two-way contract.

Suns Notes: Highsmith, Baynes, Booker

The Suns are working out Haywood Highsmith this week, Ben Stinar of Amico Hoops reports (Twitter link). The small forward, who split time between the Sixers and the G League last season, recently worked out for the Bucks as well.

Here’s more from Phoenix:

  • The Suns traded for Aron Baynes early in the summer and Gina Mizell of The Athletic hears that Phoenix is hopeful that he’ll serve as a mentor for Deandre Ayton. Mizell discussed Baynes with The Athletic’s Jared Weiss, who believes the big man’s skill set meshes well with Ayton’s and that the veteran center will be a positive influence in the locker room.
  • In the same piece, Weiss argues that new addition Dario Saric is the best frontcourt partner for Baynes. The scribe compares the Baynes-Saric fit to the Marcus Morris-Baynes combo in Boston last season.
  • Devin Booker decided not to play for Team USA so he could get healthy for the upcoming NBA season, though the decision didn’t sit well with everyone. ESPN’s Nick Friedell believes Booker’s move was “awful,” as he explained on The Jump.