One of the Miami Heat's most shocking offseason moves from this past summer could end up looking a whole lot worse if the recent rumors are accurate. According to recent reporting surrounding the Brooklyn Nets, there's an expectation that they're going to be able to flip Haywood Highsmith to a contender for an asset before the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline.
It would make the Heat's already questionable decision to trade Highsmith look even worse.
In an attempt to get under the luxury tax, the Heat elected to trade Highsmith in a salary dump move to the Nets in August. In addition, Miami had to staple a second-round pick to Highsmith's contract. In return, the Heat received a highly protected second-round pick back from the Nets that will almost certainly never convey.
But by making the deal, the Heat did accomplish their goal of getting under the luxury tax. They also were able to sign Dru Smith to a new deal, a move that may or may not have motivated the Heat even further to trade Highsmith now.
Despite that move, it didn't help the team at all in coming out any cleaner in the decision to trade Highsmith in a salary dump deal.
It's going to look even more head-scratching if the Nets are able to trade Highsmith closer to the trade deadline for a real asset.
The Heat must learn from this mistake
Moving forward, it doesn't help the franchise much to continue harping on this mistake. Sure, it's going to look foolish for the Heat when Brooklyn is able to flip Highsmith for a young prospect or a true second-round pick in February.
The best fans can hope for now is that the Heat's front office begins to learn from these types of mistakes. Over the past few years, there hasn't been a team in the league better at getting the least in exchange for lame duck assets.
The Heat lost Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin, and now Haywood Highsmith for pennies on the dollar. In fact, all the team has to show for parting ways with each of those players is Simone Fontecchio and a second-round pick.
Miami can't have it both ways. The Heat doesn't like to sell assets, but when the writing is on the wall and it's clear, there are times when teams have to make difficult decisions. That was the case for Vincent, Strus, Robinson, and Martin. There could be some pushback against Highsmith, since it was a surprise, but the point still stands.
The Heat have an asset management problem. And in a few months, that's going to be even more evident when a team like the Nets handles a trade of Highsmith better than the Heat did.