Overview

• Miami dealt Haywood Highsmith and an unprotected 2032 second-round pick to Brooklyn for a 2026 second-rounder protected in the No. 31–55 range that is unlikely to convey.
• By shedding Highsmith’s $5.61 million expiring salary, the Heat sit about $4 million below the luxury-tax line.
• The trade generates a $5.6 million exception and frees two standard-contract slots for Miami.
• Highsmith, recovering from meniscal repair surgery with an eight-to-10-week timeline, saw his immediate trade value diminish.
• Brooklyn now holds roughly $22 million in cap space after the deal and must cut its roster to 15 standard-contract players.