Miami Heat: What ‘NBA Orlando’ could mean for Tyler Herro’s future
As the NBA heads into Orlando to finish out this season, the Miami Heat will be watching rookie guard Tyler Herro closely.
Few members of this Miami Heat team are considered key pieces to the club’s future outside of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Even rookie shooting guard Tyler Herro, Pat Riley’s most recent draft success, has an uncertain future in South Beach.
Why? The team is actively looking for a third All-Star to pair with Butler and Adebayo. While the 2021 offseason seems the prime opportunity to do that, trust that Riley and the front office will have a backup plan centered around a blockbuster trade.
They’ve been tied to many names that are tied up longterm on their current deals, like Wizards’ guard Bradley Beal or Thunder guard Chris Paul. That being said, in any deal, they’ll find that Herro is likely their most appealing trade asset.
The team has little to no draft compensation to offer up, and the sharpshooter’s got three years left on his rookie deal. He’s put on a strong inaugural campaign behind averages of 12.9 points and four rebounds on an efficient 41/39/83 shooting split.
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Herro’s impressed for an undersized guard that was drafted at 13th overall. Fans had mixed feelings when his name was called over a year ago, but most would now rather keep him than deal him for an aging star or any potential free agent to be.
What’s the rush? Given the Heat’s current cap situation and their six free agents to be, Riley and the front office will be faced with tough decisions sooner rather than later. And Herro is the only of the three on a longterm deal, and arguably has the highest upside.
Duncan Robinson (26) and Kendrick Nunn (24) are both older players given their experience, placing them closer to their ceilings respectively. Herro is only 20 years old, and as most will tell you, just touching the surface of what will be his peak as a talent.
If you’re asking the guard himself, he won’t shy away from his own confident outlook. Herro told reporters last week he sees himself winding up an All-Star one day. If any coaching staff is going to get the most out of the guard, they’re working for this Miami front office.
The only question now is if they can do it sooner rather than later. With so many future implications directly stemming from this upcoming playoffs and following offseason, rest assured either Herro or the Heat will be rewarded from a strong showing from the guard in Orlando.
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As the Miami Heat begin evaluating their current personnel in regards to the future of South Beach, look for Tyler Herro to fall under the microscope in Orlando. His finish to this 2019-2020 season could very well dictate how his tenure with the team plays out.