The Phoenix Suns have handed the Golden State Warriors another opportunity to sign one of Jimmy Butler's former teammates, with Haywood Highsmith set to re-enter free agency after being waived by the franchise on Wednesday.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Suns are moving on from Highsmith despite only signing him to a two-year contract in February. The second year of his deal was only partially guaranteed, allowing Phoenix to now open up an extra roster spot.
Suns give Warriors another opportunity to sign Haywood Highsmith
Highsmith has dealt with injury and a subsequent loss of impact from the latter stage of his tenure with the Miami Heat, having been traded to the Brooklyn Nets last summer where he didn't play a single game and was eventually bought out.
The 29-year-old averaged 13 minutes in just seven appearances for Phoenix to close the regular season, posting 5.4 points and 1.9 rebounds while making eight of his 14 (57.1%) 3-point attempts.
The Phoenix Suns have waived Haywood Highsmith, league sources told @hoopshype. He was partially guaranteed $1 million of his $3 million salary for the 2026-27 season. The 3-and-D forward has averaged 5.4 points on 38% 3-point shooting and 3.1 rebounds in six NBA seasons.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 12, 2026
Highsmith had developed into a reliable 3-and-D wing in Miami, including playing in 18 playoff games during the franchise's Butler-led run to the NBA Finals in 2023. Across the following two years after that Finals run, Highsmith averaged 6.3 points and 3.3 rebounds on a healthy 38.8% shooting from 3-point range.
Butler and Highsmith played 149 combined regular season and playoff games together as teammates -- coincidentally the same as Butler and current Warrior general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. when they were teammates at the Chicago Bulls.
Warriors looking at wing/forward options to round out their roster
Golden State are reportedly eyeing veteran forward Georges Niang with one of their two final roster spots, but Highsmith's entrance to the free agency market does at least give them another option to consider when it comes to that type of player.
Highsmith is nearly four years younger than Niang, while neither have made any real impact since the 2024-25 season -- Niang missed the pre-All-Star period with injury and was then waived by the Memphis Grizzlies in February.
The Warriors will ultimately have to decide if Highsmith is still capable enough to prove worthy of turning their focus away from Niang. The fact Butler will miss half of next season recoverying from his torn ACL means previously built chemistry is unlikely to play any real factor.
A similarly-placed Play-In Tournament team like Phoenix moving on from Highsmith doesn't say much for his potential impact going forward, meaning it's unlikely Golden State have too much interest despite now having another opportunity.
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