NBA Moves: Suns, Haywood Highsmith, Pacers, Braden Smith, Pelicans

Suns

Apparently Haywood Highsmith wasn’t away from Phoenix for very long.

The Suns are bringing Highsmith back on a one-year contract, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, with ESPN’s Shams Charania confirming the agreement.

Phoenix waived Highsmith last week, and he cleared waivers Friday. The 29-year-old forward appeared in only seven regular-season games last season after undergoing knee surgery and later suffering a setback in his recovery.

Highsmith previously established himself as a useful three-and-D piece during four seasons with the Heat. His new deal is expected to be for the minimum, though the guarantee details remain unclear.

Pacers

The Pacers have officially signed former Purdue guard Braden Smith to a two-way contract, the team announced.

Smith, the No. 38 overall pick in June, was acquired by Indiana in a draft-night trade with the Bulls. The 23-year-old was a consensus first-team All-American in each of his final two seasons at Purdue and was named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2025.

He averaged 14.3 points, 8.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals as a senior while shooting 36.2 percent from three.

As Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors noted, Smith had been expected to receive a two-way deal since draft night, but the Pacers spent much of the summer shuffling those roster spots. Ethan Thompson‘s recent departure for KK Partizan finally created the opening.

Indiana now has 14 players on standard contracts and all three two-way spots filled. The Pacers also don’t have enough room below the first-apron hard cap to simply add a 15th player.

Pelicans

The Pelicans finally made a veteran addition.

Free-agent forward Trendon Watford has agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract with New Orleans, per ESPN.

Watford, 25, had reportedly been in advanced talks with Valencia Basket before opting to remain in the NBA. He spent last season with Philadelphia, averaging 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 53 games.

As Arthur Hill of Hoops Rumors noted, Watford becomes New Orleans’ first veteran addition of an otherwise quiet offseason and brings the Pelicans to 15 players on standard contracts.