Overlooked Heat player could be the key to unlocking the starting lineup

Haywood Highsmith is one of the top perimeter defenders in the NBA, according to an advanced metric tracked by BBall Index.

Highsmith ranked 10th among the league’s top point-of-attack defenders, according to BBall Index, which defines a point-of-attack defender as a player who guards the opponent’s top ball handler and is often found defending in isolation, fighting through ball screens.

The Miami Heat forward was among elite company like Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Jaden McDaniels, Jrue Holiday and Jalen Suggs. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Highsmith has the length to corral ball-handlers and the timing to poke the ball away for steals. Last season, Highsmith averaged 1.4 steals per 36 minutes, equal to Jimmy Butler.

Haywood Highsmith could help bring balance to the Heat's starting lineup next season.

Beyond the physical tools, Highsmith slides his feet well and has a knack for getting well-times deflections.

The Heat re-signed Highsmith to a two-way, $11 million this summer. After Caleb Martin left for the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent, Highsmith should see more playing time and a bigger role.

Though Highsmith was used mostly as a forward during his Heat tenure, these perimeter defense stats suggest he might be better off playing more as a guard.

There’s an argument that he should start. Look again at the names on that list. Most of them are starting guards. If Highsmith could have the defensive impact of someone like Caruso, Dort or Holiday, the Heat could go from merely good to elite on defense next season.

With Highsmith starting, the Heat could hide a scoring guard like Tyler Herro or Terry Rozier on the least-threatening offensive opponent while Highsmith picks up the primary ball handler. (I’m sure Jimmy Butler would appreciate not having to do it so he can stay fresh.)

(In a small sample size, lineups with Highsmith, Butler, Adebayo, Nikola Jovic and either Herro or Rozier held opponents to 64.3 points per 100 possessions last season, per Cleaning the Glass.)

The key to making a starting lineup with Highsmith viable is his 3-point shot. The Heat need spacing around Butler and Bam Adebayo. If Highsmith can maintain something close to his 40% clip from deep last season, he could emerge as a dependable two-way player and out-perform his contract.

After last season’s disappointing finish and relatively quiet offseason, the Heat should be considering every way to shake things up. Moving Highsmith into the starting lineup could be a way to balance the starting lineup.