Haywood Highsmith is on his way back to Phoenix.
League sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that the Suns are re-signing the veteran forward, and agent Jerry Dianis confirmed to ESPN’s Shams Charania that the new deal will be for one year.
Highsmith had only just been waived last Wednesday after a brief stint with the team. He cleared waivers on Friday and became a free agent, carrying a $1 million guarantee on the $3,018,158 contract he was due to make next season.
The Suns are expected to bring him back on another minimum-salary deal, though the exact terms still haven’t been finalized. If the contract is non-guaranteed and includes Exhibit 9 language, it would not count against the salary cap unless Highsmith makes the regular season roster.
Highsmith’s path to this point has been shaped by injuries. He missed most of last season after surgery in August to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, then hit a setback in rehab in October. Phoenix signed him to a two-year minimum-salary contract in February, and he ended up appearing in seven regular season games and two playoff contests.
Before arriving in Phoenix, Highsmith built a reputation in Miami as a useful three-and-D rotation piece and occasional starter. Over his final two seasons with the Heat from 2023-25, he averaged 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.7 minutes per game, shot .461/.388/.684, and played in 140 regular season games with 68 starts.
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