The Miami Heat are unmatched with their long-term luck in scouting unheralded gems. South Florida has indeed been a premiere location for stars like Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and others, but Miami’s front office is always intentional about how to support big names.
Since the Heat’s Butler era started in 2019, Duncan Robinson and Haywood Highsmith have been among Miami’s most impactful role players. So far this season, the latter has been enjoying arguably his most productive NBA season, while Robinson is seeking his normal shooting touch.
Over the summer, Highsmith signed a two-year, $11 million contract with Miami, an agreement that was expected to elevate his role after the Heat lost undrafted gems Max Struss (Cleveland Cavaliers), Gabe Vincent (Los Angeles Lakers) and Caleb Martin (Philadelphia 76ers). Beyond maintaining what’s become recognized as Heat Culture, the deal also showed Miami’s ability to operate within the league’s new dreaded second apron in the collective bargaining agreement, which greatly restricts a team’s ability to balance talent with payroll.
According to Spotrac, Miami is ninth among teams in total payroll this season ($191.5 million) with the league’s fourth-oldest roster by average age (27.2 years). Through eight games, the 27-year-old Highsmith, who makes $5.2 million in salary this season, has grown his value to the team through the growth of his game. He’s averaging career-highs in several categories, but each contribution has been valuable despite those leaps being modest. He’s scoring effectively (7.9 points on 57.1 shooting), contributing good minutes (24.5 per game), displaying active hands (team-high 1.8 steals) and locking down opponents with his highly regarded defensive pressure (allowing 45 percent shooting, per NBA.com).
In Miami’s last four games, he’s averaged 33.8 minutes while starting twice and contributing 12.5 points (64.3 percent overall shooting, 43.8 percent from deep) and 2.5 steals. Highsmith’s minutes fluctuated in the team’s first five outings (including two DNPs), but he remains confident in helping raise the Heat’s ceiling whenever and however he can, especially as Miami seeks cohesive footing after its 4-6 start. In those previous four games, which have included three Heat losses, Miami has been far better with Highsmith on the court (plus-0.4 net rating) compared to his 62 minutes on the bench (outscored by 12.8 points per 100 possessions), per NBA.com. His 28 deflections trail only Bam Adebayo (34) for the team lead.
“I’m, in a sense, used to this,” said Highsmith. “Some games, I might not be in the rotation or I might be in the rotation. I’m always going to be ready no matter what.”
Despite his respectively slow start to the season, Robinson remains a key fixture in Miami’s rotation and will rediscover his shooting touch in time. His true shooting percentage through nine games (51.3) has regressed by double digits from his career average (61.3). He’s handling the ball more often than ever when he plays (21.8 usage percentage), but he’s seeking to pass more than create his own shot. And when Robinson has shot the ball, he’s been struggling on 2s (39.1 percent) and hasn’t attempted a free throw yet.
Despite those figures, Robinson’s presence continues making defenses adjust as injuries, blow leads and late-game miscues have Miami searching for early-season solutions. Given Butler’s ankle woes, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has been plugging and playing different units in recent games, and he’s found luck with Robinson and Highsmith contributing together.
This season, when both role players are alongside Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier, Miami has outscored opponents by 35.2 points per 100 possessions in 18 minutes, with all but one of those coming since Butler left last Friday’s loss to Denver due to injury. How does Miami continue finding players who can fill gaps on the fly? Robinson shared his theory on a recent episode of ‘The Young Man and The Three podcast.’
“I would say Miami does a really good job,” Robinson said. “Obviously, they see something from a talent standpoint, but I think they do their work in terms of their approach and mentality. They’re trying to get people in the door that are gonna be appreciative of the opportunity and try to take advantage of it. There’s no secret sauce: I think Miami’s biggest distinguishing factor is they’re gonna make sure every single day is maximized. If you’re not in a rotation, you are gonna drill this pick-and-roll over and over. If you do need to play five to 10 minutes on a given night, all those situations and roles you’ll be in have been repped out to the max in practice.”
Herro’s All-Star-esque start to the season has helped Miami avoid what could otherwise be a deeper hole, but worse things could happen without a coach of Spoelstra’s caliber leading the way or even a player of Butler’s ilk rehabbing to raise the team’s floor. But sound, reliable role players help teams realize their ceiling once everything aptly comes together.
Highsmith continues growing into one the NBA’s most valuable role players, and Robinson, who enjoyed arguably his best all-around production as a pro last season, remains a contributor capable of shooting the lights out and occasionally running some offense. Miami’s start has had its share of frustrations, but the team remains confident in turning its tide and finding room for a positive run. Adjusting to no Butler will challenge Miami, but Herro, who had his second career 40-point game in Tuesday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons, believes it will be for the better.
“We were in position to win, just some things we’ll learn from going forward,” Herro explained. “We’re a young team without Deuce-Deuce. Without him out there, we’re still learning through some things. That’s what it’s about, and we’ll continue to get better.”
Miami’s next game will be an Emirates NBA Cup matchup at the Indiana Pacers (5-6, 3-1 at home). We will preview that matchup in full on Friday.
(Top photo: Megan Briggs / Getty Images )
