Even earlier than P.J. Tucker left the Miami Heat, teammate Haywood Highsmith wished to be the subsequent Tucker.
Now, in very actual phrases, Highsmith doubtlessly could have the chance to comply with in Tucker’s footsteps.
With Tucker having departed to the Philadelphia 76ers in NBA free company, Highsmith finds himself enjoying for the Heat’s summer-league workforce in Las Vegas amid heightened stakes.
“I have some of the intangibles P.J. has,” Highsmith, 25, instructed the Sun Sentinel. “I’m very versatile on protection and I wish to play protection like him. And we’re each sort of stronger sorts of guys, can set screens, quick rolls, and might get within the paint and make performs. So I believe it’s at all times been in me.
“I can be a power forward. P.J.’s kind of like bigger, but I’m kind of like longer, I would say. So I could see me being a kind of power forward. But I think Miami does a very good job of just making sure we have people that guys can look up to and see ourselves.”
Neither Tucker nor Highsmith has the construct of a prototypic energy ahead, an element which has seemingly mattered little to educate Erik Spoelstra through the years along with his position-less method. Highsmith is listed at 6 ft 7, 220 kilos, with Tucker at 6-5, 245.
Highsmith, who went undrafted out of Division II Wheeling in 2014 and briefly then hung out with the Philadelphia 76ers, stated he’s prepared and prepared to upsize, maybe to compete with re-signed Caleb Martin for minutes on the 4 place.
“In the G League, I was a [center] every now and then when we didn’t have a five with us,” stated Highsmith, who’s on {a partially} assured contract. “So I have guarded taller guys. I just try to use my quickness and make ‘em play hard and front ‘em in the post. I’ve definitely guarded taller guys, for sure.”
In nothing else, the continued summer time expertise will enable Highsmith to constantly follow towards peak in entrance of the workforce’s teaching employees. Among these on the Heat’s roster for the Las Vegas summer time league are 6-11 Omer Yurtseven, 6-11 Orlando Robinson and 6-11 first-round choose Nikola Jovic, amongst different massive males.
“I’ve guarded Omer a couple of times in practice. I’ve guarded him in one on ones,” stated Highsmith, who joined the Heat on an emergency 10-day contract amid the workforce’s COVID outbreak in December after which was signed for the steadiness of the season to an ordinary contract in March (instead of KZ Okpala). “So, I imply, guarding larger guys, that’s the subsequent step for me so far as energy ahead.
“I think the power forward position these days, it’s kind of all about versatility, switching on defense and shooting, which I think I can do. I’m like 6-6, power forwards are 6-8, 6-9. But I can see myself playing it in the right system, which Miami has, like the system for P.J., Markieff [Morris], and they also had Jae Crowder here.”
Of course, a key component within the 3-and-D equation is changing 3-pointers. Already, there was a good 5 of 12 in three video games on the California Classic in San Francisco, with the subsequent alternative to come back Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Eastern (NBA TV) towards the summer time roster of the Boston Celtics on the UNLV campus.
“I think I’ve improved over the years as a 3-point shooter tremendously,” Highsmith stated, having gone 9 of 28 with the Heat this previous season. “A whole lot of my summer time coaching is at all times about getting up pictures, getting the repetition and stuff like that.
“I feel like once my feet are set, it’s a great shot for me. And not just corner threes, as well, but above-the-break, top of the key, wherever.”
Assistant coach Malik Allen, who’s guiding the Heat summer time roster, stated thus far, so good.
“With him, the expectation, it’s not going to be rating 22 a recreation. I need his defensive depth and his management on that finish. And then his offense, be aggressive.
“He’s got really long arms and he’s got a good nose for the ball. He’s tough, competes. We just got to keep trying to find ways to get him involved on the offensive end of the floor.”
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com