P.J. Tucker continues to provide Miami Heat inspiration

LOS ANGELES — Having fallen out of the Los Angeles Clippers’ rotation, P.J. Tucker nonetheless remains an inspiration to a former Miami Heat teammate.

Dealt Nov. 1 from the Philadelphia 76ers largely as salary-cap filler in the trade that delivered James Harden to the Clippers, Tucker could be approaching a buyout ahead of that March 1 deadline.

But as the Heat moved closer to Monday night’s matchup against the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena, Heat forward Haywood Highsmith said his goal remains to provide the Heat a facsimile of what Tucker provided the Heat during the 2021-22 season — solid, undersized defense in the power rotation, with a 3-point shot that draws opposition respect.

“I felt like that year when they had P.J. in the starting lineup they really gelled and it was just a good mix of players in the starting lineup,” said Highsmith, who is dealing with the aftereffects of the jolt to jaw sustained at the end of Saturday night’s road loss to the Utah Jazz. “So I feel like I could be someone like P.J. in the sense of when you really try to be that hustle guy, the all-around guy. So I could definitely see myself in the starting lineup.”

Which is where Highsmith stood earlier this season before a debilitating back bruise sidelined him for six games.

Now there is this latest issue in the wake of the game in Utah.

But that doesn’t mean that Tucker won’t continue to stand as a role model.

“I mean, I work a lot on my shot, like a lot, a lot, so definitely when I’m open, I definitely want to be guaranteed money,” Highsmith said of matching Tucker’s Heat 3-point proficiency.

But unlike Tucker, Highsmith said he wants to be respected as more than just a corner specialist.