Haywood Highsmith Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Sixers Re-Sign Haywood Highsmith To Exhibit 10 Deal

September 25th, 2019 at 3:07pm CST by Luke Adams

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 19th, 2019 at 1:16pm CST by Luke Adams

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

September 5th, 2019 at 8:25pm CST by ChrisCrouse

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.

Norvel Pelle Signs Two-Way Contract With Sixers

July 2nd, 2019 at 8:35am CST by Dana Gauruder

JULY 2: The Sixers have issued a press release formally announcing Pelle’s two-way contract.

JULY 1: The Sixers have signed center Norvel Pelle to a two-way contract, his agent BJ Bass told Hoops Rumors’ own JD Shaw (Twitter link). We initially reported last week that Pelle would get a two-way deal with Philadelphia.

Pelle, who went undrafted in 2014, played for the G League Delaware Blue Coats last season. The 6’11” big man was named to the NBAGL All-Defensive Team. Pelle, 26, also made a number of stops overseas during his career.

Haywood Highsmith previously occupied one of the team’s two-way contracts before being waived last week. Highsmith will join Philadelphia’s Summer League team in Las Vegas.

Atlantic Notes: Pelle, Sixers, Thomas, Siakam

June 27th, 2019 at 9:14pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Hoops Rumors’ own JD Shaw hears that the Sixers will sign center Norvel Pelle to a two-way contract (Twitter links).

Pelle, who went undrafted in 2014, played for the Delaware Blue Coats last season. The big man was named to the NBAGL All-Defensive Team for his play in the G League.

Haywood Highsmith previously occupied one of the team’s two-way contracts before being waived earlier in the week. Shaw adds that Highsmith will join Philadelphia’s Summer League team in Las Vegas.

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

David Heller, who had been a partial owner of the Sixers, is no longer part of the team, Yaron Weitzman of Bleacher Report relays (Twitter link). “We can confirm that David Heller has sold his interest in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE). David will always be a friend to this organization. We appreciate his time, effort, energy, and partnership…and wish him well in his future endeavors,” the Sixers said in a statement. The circumstances surrounding Heller’s departure are unclear, but sources close to the front office tell Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer that he was forced out. The 76ers strongly denied that characterization, Pompey notes.
Isaiah Thomas is not in the Celtics‘ plan this offseason, Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe writes. Boston appears likely to lose Kyrie Irving, though the organization is reportedly a leading contender for Kemba Walker.
Blake Murphy of The Athletic explores whether the Raptors should ink Pascal Siakam to an extension this summer. Siakam’s long-term future in Toronto isn’t in question; it’s just a matter of whether to sign him to an extension before the season or wait until next summer to handle his contract situation in restricted free agency.

Sixers Waive Haywood Highsmith

June 24th, 2019 at 4:42pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Sixers have waived swingman Haywood Highsmith, Serena Winters of NBCSPhilly tweets.

That opens up a two-way contract slot, since Highsmith was signed in that manner during January.

The 6’7” Highsmith got a taste of NBA action, appearing in five games and averaging 1.8 PPG in 8.0 MPG. The 22-year-old Highsmith, a former Division II standout who played his college ball at Wheeling Jesuit, spent most of last season with the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G League affiliate. He appeared in 46 G League contests, averaging 12.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG and 2.7 APG in 32.2 MPG.

Sixers Sign Haywood Highsmith To Two-Way Deal

January 8th, 2019 at 2:14pm CST by Luke Adams

2:14pm: The Sixers have officially signed Highsmith, the team confirmed today in a press release.

8:29am: The Sixers are set to sign G League wing Haywood Highsmith to a two-way contract later today, sources tell Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Philadelphia has an open two-way contract slot after waiving Demetrius Jackson on Sunday.

Highsmith, a former Division II standout who played his college ball at Wheeling Jesuit, has been solid for the Delaware Blue Coats – Philadelphia’s G League affiliate – so far this season. In 21 games, he has posted 13.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 2.5 APG with a .450/.394/.680 shooting line.

Mike Schmitz of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) recently identified Highsmith as one of a handful of G League players to watch, noting that the 22-year-old offers “an intriguing blend of physical tools, shooting potential and defensive versatility.” Although Highsmith isn’t a great ball-handler or play-maker, he has a “sound feel” for the game, which should only improve with more reps, Schmitz wrote.

Highsmith participated in a workout for the Sixers about a month ago.

Next Tuesday (January 15) is the deadline for teams to sign players to two-way contracts, and two-way salaries will become fully guaranteed on January 20, so Highsmith appears to be in good position to stick with the Sixers for the rest of the season once he inks his new deal.

Sixers Work Out Rush, Afflalo, Others

December 6th, 2018 at 6:11pm CST by JD Shaw

The Sixers held a free-agent workout this week with multiple veteran players, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who tweets that Brandon Rush and Arron Afflalo were among those in attendance.

The team also worked out Sean Kilpatrick, who last played for the Bulls, and Haywood Highsmith, who currently plays in the NBA G League, according to Charania.

The Sixers are not expected to make a roster move following the workout, a source told EJ Smith of the Philly Inquirer.

Philadelphia is likely seeking to bolster its bench and find another talent who can play on the wing. The team traded for All-Star Jimmy Butler last month and has a 17-9 record through the season’s first 26 games, good for third in the Eastern Conference.

Rush last played in the NBA during the 2016-17 season, scoring 4.2 points per game on 37% shooting in 47 contests with Minnesota. He holds nine years of experience and is a career 40% three-point shooter. Last season, Rush was waived by the Bucks in training camp and signed a 10-day deal with Portland, but didn’t appear in any games.

Afflalo, an 11-year veteran, spent 53 games with Orlando last season before reaching free agency in July. He averaged career-lows in points (3.4) and minutes (12.9) per game, but provided veteran leadership off the court for the Magic‘s younger players.

Kilpatrick, 28, has bounced around the NBA since going undrafted in 2014. He’s made stops with Minnesota, Denver, Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Chicago and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Highsmith plays for the Delaware Blue Coats, G League affiliate of the 76ers. He’s a 6’7” sharpshooter who’s impressed multiple league-observers this season, averaging 22 points, 12.5 rebounds and three assists per outing.