We now know why the Miami Heat pushed so hard to trade Haywood Highsmith. It was to make room for Dru Smith. It'll be a tough sell for Heat fans, but the full scope of the somewhat odd Highsmith trade has now been fully revealed.
The Heat officially signed Smith to a new three-year contract worth $7.9 million. The three-year contract is fully guaranteed. After spending the last three years on a two-way contract with the Heat, Smith wasn't eligible to sign another two-way deal with the team. That means if Smith was going to return to the Heat, it needed to be on a standard contract.
Clearing room via the Highsmith trade, Smith is now back with the Heat on a three-year deal.
Dru Smith's long road to this point
Whether fans will agree with the move to sign Smith, you have to admire his fight through the first few years of his career. Coming off back-to-back significant injuries, Smith has had to work for every opportunity he's been given.
Making waves over the last three years in the Heat's developmental system, they believed it was right to award him with a new deal.
Over the last three seasons, Smith has only played in 28 regular-season games for the Heat. Needless to say, the front office was sold in what Smith showed throughout that sample size.
This past season with the Heat, before he tore his Achilles, he was averaging six points and three rebounds on 51 percent shooting from the field and 53 percent shooting from 3-point range. Smith will now join a loaded backcourt in Miami.
Between Davion Mitchell, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Kasparas Jakucionis, Norman Powell, Pelle Larsson, and now Smith, there will be roughly seven players vying for minutes in the Heat's backcourt. Sure, the team could roll out some three-guard lineups, especially after the trade of Highsmith, but there's no question the Heat has a crowded backcourt all of a sudden.
Clearly, the Heat were completely satisfied with the depth at guard. Smith will give the team another veteran option they can turn to this season. Whether this move will end up panning out remains to be seen, but we now know the true reason why the Heat pushed to trade Highsmith.
You can disagree with the move, but at least the Heat picked a direction?