After a surprising injury to Haywood Highsmith, Miami Heat fans must be extremely bullish about his future with the team moving forward. To be honest, it's difficult to blame them (and the front office) if this is how they really feel.
Highsmith is expected to miss up to two months after undergoing surgery to repair his meniscus. That timeline will place him out until the start of training camp, if not longer. At this point, there's a chance he could miss the start of the regular season for the Heat.
That could be considered a significant loss for the team, especially on the defensive end of the floor. Highsmith is largely regarded as one of the Heat's best - and most versatile - defenders on the team. Losing his presence on that end of the floor will certainly have an early impact on the Heat.
But this is more than just the fact that the Heat may have to begin the season without one of their regular contributors. There could be some added long-term impact with this recent injury for Highsmight.
And that, more than anything, is one thing that Heat fans should be not too thrilled about moving forward.
How will this effect Highsmith long term?
The big concern for the Heat has to revolve around how this will not only impact Highsmith's availability in training camp and to start the season, but how it could play a role in his long-term health.
This matters to the Heat because Highsmith is in the final year of his contract and could be in line for an extension, depending on other possible moves that the team may make between now and next offseason.
But if the Heat are going to give Highsmith an extension, they're going to need to be sure that this is not one of those injuries that is going to possibly have a long-term effect on his career. At 28 years old, Highsmith realistically still has some productive years left, but this injury is likely only going to give the Heat more hesitation to jump at an extension.
Ultimatley, his play this season is going to determine whether the Heat extends him or not. But there's no question that this injury does give the Heat something else to think about.
The season hasn't even started yet, and the Heat are already against the 8-ball thanks to this surprising injury to Highsmith.