Can Haywood Highsmith stick in Heat rotation? A look at his intriguing defensive skill set
Forward Haywood Highsmith has found himself out of the Miami Heat’s rotation at times this season. The Heat’s injury issues have also pushed Highsmith into the rotation this season.
Through it all, Highsmith’s approach has been to try to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way.
Like in Tuesday’s home loss to the Chicago Bulls when the Heat relied on Highsmith to play 41 minutes on a night it was without three starters. He recorded career-highs in points (18), field goals made (seven), three-point field goals made (four) and steals (four) in his second start of the season and third start of his NBA career.
“I’m just locked in just trying to contribute to wins and help the team win in any way I can,” Highsmith said ahead of the Heat’s matchup against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night at FTX Arena. “It’s nice to get playing time, obviously, and step into the rotation and get some consistent minutes and stuff. That shows that they trust me and they like what I’m doing so far. So just got to keep going, keep being consistent and stay locked in.”
While making an efficient amount of his three-point attempts would help Highsmith earn more consistent playing time even as the Heat’s roster gets healthier, it’s his defensive skill set and potential that has earned him a spot in the NBA.
At 6-5 with a 7-foot wingspan, Highsmith has the frame to serve as a versatile defender who fits the Heat’s switch-heavy scheme.
Highsmith hasn’t disappointed. Players he has guarded this season have combined to shoot just 37.6 percent, according to NBA tracking stats, which is the fifth-lowest shooting percentage allowed among the 332 players around the league who have defended at least 100 shots.
“I think the system helps a lot,” said Highsmith, who turned 26 on Dec. 9. “They like physical defenders, guys who get into the ball and get stops one on one, help defense, shrinking the court. I think with my length plus my size and my strength and quickness, I can do a lot of different things on the floor and definitely just guard some of the best players in this league.”
With some of the Heat’s best individual defenders out because of injuries in Tuesday’s loss to Chicago, Highsmith was tasked with defending Bulls star DeMar DeRozan. Highsmith had trouble slowing DeRozan at times, but Highsmith’s length also helped him win some one-on-one battles against DeRozan over the course of the game.
“A lot of people on the team are giving me compliments on my defense,” Highsmith said. “They say I’m not allowing guys to shoot a high percentage when I’m guarding them and stuff like that.
“I just got to stay consistent. I think I can be a great defender in this league. I just got to keep going, keep elevating, keep improving and keep learning.”
On the offensive end, Highsmith’s main responsibility is to hit open spot-up threes. Used as a floor spacer for most of his minutes, Highsmith entered Friday shooting a solid 37 percent on 2.2 three-point attempts per game this season.
Highsmith was shooting just 20.8 percent from three-point range through the Heat’s first 21 games, but he has shot 12 of 22 (54.5 percent) from beyond the arc since then to raise his three-point percentage to a respectable mark.
“I guess my shot right now has been inconsistent,” Highsmith said. “But I’m going to keep shooting. I know I’m a good shooter. Any open shot I see, I’m going to take. I’m not going to be hesitant, I’m not going to think twice or whatever.”
Beyond his duties as a floor spacer, Highsmith has also made an impact with his offensive rebounding, work on the baseline as a cutter and occasionally as a short-roll playmaker. But further development of his offensive game will be needed to continue earning more playing time.
“Right now, I’m just doing stuff that P.J. [Tucker] used to do,” said Highsmith, who will have his full $1.8 million salary for this season become guaranteed if he’s still on the Heat’s roster on Jan. 10. “Dribble handoffs, short rolls or hitting corner threes or hitting spot-up threes, and offensive rebounding. Just doing a little bit of everything.”
Highsmith said he still watches Tucker and Jae Crowder film to study how they impacted the game while playing as the Heat’s power forward. Highsmith also watches current Heat starting power forward Caleb Martin closely.
Highsmith’s playing time might again disappear as the Heat moves closer to full strength, but he has proven that he can be relied on to play meaningful NBA minutes if he’s needed. He entered this season with appearances in just 24 regular-season games during his NBA career after going undrafted out of Wheeling University in 2018.
“He’s been playing well,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said this week of Highsmith. “It has nothing to do with whether he’s making shots. That’s when everybody else will notice. But he’s played really well for the last five or six weeks and he’s been very impactful defensively. He’s playing his role offensively. And he’s pretty good on the baseline. He’s good at getting guys open shots on triggers. And he’s really working diligently on his shooting, so that’s going to improve. But defensively, he’s a presence for sure.”
HOLIDAY SPIRIT
The Heat has been active this week spreading the holiday spirit around South Florida.
Heat guard Tyler Herro on Thursday teamed up with the Voices for Children Foundation for a shopping spree at the Nike store.
Heat center Bam Adebayo on Thursday hosted his fourth annual Christmas Experience on the Heat’s practice court for student-athletes from the Liberty City area. All students received a new pair of Air Jordan 6s from Adebayo and his BBB (Bam Books and Brotherhood) Foundation.
Also on Thursday, forward Udonis Haslem was among those representing the Heat at an ice cream party and holiday gift giveaway to children who participate in the after-school program at the Belafonte TACOLCY Center. The event was also set up to help address the digital divide in Miami-Dade County, as the Heat and Ticketmaster teamed up to gift $100,000 to Miami Connected, which provides access to high-speed, high quality internet service at home, at no cost, to families that qualify.
INJURY REPORT
The Heat ruled out Omer Yurtseven (left ankle surgery) and Dewayne Dedmon (left foot plantar fasciitis) for Friday’s game against the Pacers. Jamal Cain was also made inactive as Miami works to preserve the NBA days on his two-way contract.
That left the Heat with 13 available players against the Pacers.
This story was originally published December 23, 2022 at 10:54 AM.
