Brooklyn remains aggressive in its post-lockout rebuild, landing Haywood Highsmith from Miami while absorbing his $5.6 million expiring deal and adding an unprotected 2032 second-round pick. In return, the Nets sent a No. 31–to–No. 55 2026 second-rounder to Miami. Brooklyn sits with about $22.5 million in cap space after the move, has 17 players on the roster, and must trim two before the season begins. The relocation deepens the Nets’ wing defense and adds a switchable shooter, all while preserving future flexibility with expiring salary and draft assets.
Highsmith is a versatile defender with growing 3-point range who could slot into Brooklyn’s wing rotation and absorb some defensive responsibilities on the perimeter. Last season he appeared in 74 games with Miami, starting 42, and averaged 6.5 points while shooting 45.8% overall, 38.2% from behind the arc, and 72.1% from the free‑throw line. An undrafted Baltimore product from Wheeling University, he earned First Team Division II All-America honors and was Mountain East Conference Player of the Year as a senior.
Brooklyn’s summer pivot also reshapes a larger move sequence. In June, the Nets sent Cam Johnson to Denver for Michael Porter Jr. and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick, and they later landed Terance Mann and the draft rights to Drake Powell from Atlanta in a three-team deal with Boston. Taken together, the transactions push Brooklyn into a cap-savvy, asset‑rich mode, designed to maximize value without sacrificing long‑term flexibility as the roster takes final shape for the regular season.
For fantasy and betting, the Highsmith acquisition signals a shift toward a deeper, defensive‑mueled perimeter group. The Porter Jr. addition brings a higher scoring ceiling and more dynamic shot creation, while Powell’s rights keep a future asset on the radar. The Nets’ ability to trim two players while maintaining upside suggests a rotation that prioritizes defense, floor spacing, and late‑season depth as Brooklyn eyes leverage in next summer’s market.
