The Golden State Warriors had their eyes on Haywood Highsmith as a potential buyout addition, especially after missing out on Cam Thomas, who opted to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks. But any hopes of landing Highsmith were dashed when the Phoenix Suns swooped in and locked him up on a multiyear deal.
According to reports, Highsmith weighed offers from several playoff contenders before choosing Phoenix-a team sitting at 32-23 heading into the All-Star break and just 1.5 games back from the 5th seed in the Western Conference. It’s a calculated move by the Suns, who continue to bolster their depth for what they hope will be a deep postseason run.
Highsmith brings a gritty, two-way presence that playoff teams covet. When healthy, he’s the kind of wing who doesn’t need the ball to make an impact.
He defends, rebounds, hits open threes, and plays within the flow of the offense. That’s exactly the type of player the Warriors could’ve used as they try to stabilize their rotation and make a late-season push.
Yes, there’s some risk here. Highsmith hasn’t played this season due to a knee injury, and there’s no guarantee he’ll return to form right away.
But based on his body of work, especially during the 2024-25 campaign with the Miami Heat, there’s reason to believe he can contribute. Last season, he averaged 6.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting a solid 45.8% from the field and 38.2% from beyond the arc.
That kind of efficiency, paired with his defensive versatility, made him one of the more intriguing names on the buyout market.
For Golden State, this is a miss. The Warriors don’t have a ton of flexibility, and the list of available impact players isn’t exactly overflowing. Highsmith wouldn’t have been a game-changer, but he could’ve been a steady, reliable piece-especially for a team that’s still figuring out its identity heading into the stretch run.
Now, the Warriors will have to pivot and explore other options on the buyout market. With the clock ticking and the West as competitive as ever, every move-or missed opportunity-counts.