Suns waive Haywood Highsmith and retain Jamaree Bouyea

The roster fine-tuning has begun for the Phoenix Suns as they prepare for the 2026–27 season, and I have a feeling some of the more analytical members of the fan base aren’t going to be particularly happy with the latest decision. After being claimed off waivers following his release from the Brooklyn Nets last season, Haywood Highsmith has officially been cut by Phoenix, with the organization opting to retain Jamaree Bouyea instead.

Both Highsmith and Bouyea carry non-guaranteed contracts that don’t become fully guaranteed until January 27.

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Highsmith appeared in seven games for the Suns last season, averaging 5.4 points in 13 minutes per contest. He also appeared in two postseason games, failing to score in either appearance.

At nearly 30 years old, Highsmith profiles as a quality three-and-D player. Although he stands 6’5″, he possesses tremendous length and has carved out a place in the NBA through toughness, grit, and his ability to knock down shots. He’s the type of player who has earned everything he’s received throughout his professional career. But when you look at the current state of the Phoenix Suns, there are several factors that likely influenced this decision.

First, the Suns simply appear to like Bouyea more. He’s somebody the organization identified while he was playing in the G League with the Austin Spurs, brought into the fold, and continued developing. And he’s rewarded that investment with some encouraging performances, including a strong preseason in which he averaged 9.8 points in 16.6 minutes across five games.

So Phoenix is opting to retain a player who’s three years younger and whom the organization has already identified as somebody worth continuing to develop. Bouyea also provides additional depth at the guard position, which brings us to another reason Highsmith became expendable.

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The Suns have plenty of depth on the wing, particularly when you consider the number of young players who need opportunities to develop. Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat are all players the organization has invested in, and finding meaningful minutes for Highsmith would…

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Publish date : 2026-10-17 17:04:00

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