Haywood Highsmith and Udonis Haslem on the offseason, Lillard noise and other Heat stuff

The Miami Heat’s season ended in the NBA Finals just five weeks ago, but it has already been a productive summer for forward Haywood Highsmith.

That’s, in part, because the Heat recently guaranteed Highsmith’s $1.9 million salary for this upcoming season. His full salary for the 2023-24 season became guaranteed on Saturday.

“It’s a good step in the right direction for me,” Highsmith said Wednesday morning during an appearance at Hard Rock Stadium, as the Heat teamed up with Rolling Loud Miami music festival to host 50 local children from Miami Gardens Camp, Life Skills & Summer Thrills for their second annual basketball clinic. “Still developing, still trying to get better and big things coming for me, I hope. I’ve been working hard this offseason, so it’s definitely a good step in the right direction.”

This step comes weeks after Highsmith, 26, produced some impressive playoff moments.

While not getting consistent playing time last season, Highsmith (6-5, 220 pounds) flashed his intriguing three-and-D skills when he did get an opportunity to get on the court. After appearing in 54 regular-season games (11 starts), he shot 8 of 16 on threes while totaling 10 steals and two blocks in 161 minutes during this year’s playoffs.

Highsmith logged 23 minutes in a loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, finishing with 18 points and two steals. He also recorded 15 points and two steals in a loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

“The playoffs are the biggest stage in basketball,” said Highsmith, who went undrafted out of Wheeling University in 2018. “When my number was called, I was ready. I had two big games, even though we lost. But it definitely helped me as far as understanding that I belong here and I was here for a reason. I have a lot that I can give for the team to help us win. So, those games were big for me just confidence wise and knowing that I can do that consistently, as well.”

Highsmith has made it clear he hopes for a bigger role this upcoming season, and he’s putting in the work this offseason to make sure he reports to training camp as an improved version of himself.

“Getting great at everything I’m good at and getting good at everything I’m OK at,” Highsmith said of his focus during summer work. “So for me, it always starts with defense. Taking it to the next level. Being a great defender. Guarding one through four, maybe one through five sometimes. Bullying through screens, getting steals, getting in passing lanes like Jimmy [Butler] and stuff like that.

“And offensively, just making sure that I’m becoming the best shooter that I can be. A lot of shots, a lot of movement. Playing with Bam [Adebayo] and Jimmy, you got to be able to shoot the ball. So a lot of shots, like I said, and also getting my body ready. Lifting, conditioning, I’ve really been going at it just to make sure I’m ready for another long season ahead.”

Udonis Haslem, who is one month into his retirement after 20 NBA seasons with the Heat, accompanied Highsmith to help run the hour-long basketball clinic at Hard Rock Stadium in partnership with Rolling Loud. Highsmith has a fan in Haslem, who will make an appearance at Highsmith’s youth basketball camp this weekend in Baltimore.

“First and foremost, he’s one of the undrafted guys, so that immediately makes the connection,” Haslem said of his relationship with Highsmith. “Last year, I did Max’s (Strus) camp. So for me, it’s automatically a connection. Then you just talk about the way he plays the game of basketball. Undersized, not a guy who you’re going to run a lot of plays for, has to be efficient. His approach is a defensive-minded approach, so he takes the challenge every night. He’s just my guy.”

LILLARD TALK

With a potential trade for Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard looming over the Heat, there remains uncertainty surrounding Miami’s roster for next season.

“It’s a business,” Highsmith said when asked about that uncertainty “You always expect things are going to happen in the offseason, so you never know. So I’m not really too worried about it right now.”

Haslem, who grew up in Miami and is expected to remain around the Heat organization in some capacity even in retirement, sidestepped a question regarding speculation about a possible Heat trade.

“Due to my unemployment, I do not keep up with what is currently going on in that area,” Haslem said with a grin. “I am more of a bird’s-eye view guy and I see everything from a big perspective. So I’m just watching.”

But Tariq Cherif, one of the Rolling Loud founders, did not hide his excitement about the possibility of the Heat trading for Lillard.

“We love the Heat,” said Cherif, who also attended Wednesday’s basketball clinic. “I go to a lot of games every season. We got to the Finals this year, next year we’re going to win the Finals. Let’s go. Damian Lillard, c’mon baby. Come on home. Come to Miami.”

Since Lillard requested a trade to the Heat on July 1, trade talks between the Trail Blazers and Heat have moved slow. A deal between the two teams was not considered imminent, as of the start of the week.

▪ Rolling Loud Miami is a three-day hip-hop music festival that will take place from Friday through Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

This is the second consecutive year Rolling Loud has partnered with the Heat to host a youth basketball clinic days before the festival.

“You cannot underestimate the connection between rap music and basketball,” Cherif said. “I think basketball players want to be rappers and rappers want to be basketball players. That’s just how the game goes. Hip-hop culture and hip-hop music influences all of life.

“You always see the basketball players walking into the arena listening to their favorite rappers, you always see rappers talking about their favorite basketball players. It goes hand in hand and here we’re trying to build hip-hop Disney World. So it’s important for us to bring those elements to the culture, and one of those things is basketball.”