There have been a ton of rumors this offseason surrounding Tyler Herro. The Miami Heat held him out of trade discussions at the deadline, but some believe he could be dealt this summer.
The 21-year-old guard burst onto the scene in The Bubble during the Heat’s NBA Finals run. However, some saw his season last year as a disappointment.
Despite this, he improved in nearly every statistical category. The only area where he got worse was his three-point shooting, going from 38.9% in the 2019-20 season to 36% last year.
He averaged 15.1 points, five rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Herro shot 43.9% from the field to go along with his 36% three-point shooting.
Herro is still super young and has a ton of room to grow. His dynamic scoring and unwavering confidence are super useful skills to have in today’s NBA.
This scoring could be much-needed next year as the Miami Heat might end up losing key pieces this offseason. Players such as Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, and Goran Dragic could also find new homes this summer.
Both Robinson and Nunn will enter restricted free agency, meaning the Heat would have to decide whether or not to match any offer they get. As for Dragic, he has a hefty team option that Miami could choose to accept or decline.
Herro will have the opportunity to increase both his scoring and assist numbers next season. The question is, exactly how much can he improve?
He played with the Team USA Select Team this summer in Las Vegas. Bam Adebayo even commented on how the opportunity could help him become a better player.
With the scoring woes they dealt with last year, another jump from Herro could really help their chances in the East. They need him to step up big-time.
Since some of the team’s top scorers are likely to be gone by the start of next season, as mentioned previously, Herro should see an increased scoring load, regardless.
He has shown some promise as a ball-handler and playmaker, but his scoring is the place he’s set to see the biggest improvements. Herro should be nearing 18-20 points per game if all goes well.
As Jimmy Butler gets older, the younger players on the Heat are set to take on bigger roles. Butler’s best skill on offense is arguably his playmaking, which could greatly benefit Herro in the coming years.
Realistically, the Miami Heat are in need of a shot creator who can nail shots on the perimeter. As great of a player as Butler is, his three-point shooter is horribly inconsistent.
Herro’s ability to take, and make, big-time shots was one of the biggest reasons the Heat were so successful in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. Though it was far from the only reason they made the Finals, he certainly played a huge role.
That being said, he should be ready to step up once again next year, but this time for the whole season. He now has two regular seasons under his belt, and another major improvement could be incoming.
Final prediction: 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 44.1% FG, 37.3% 3PT
With so many media outlets and fans assuming he’ll be traded, Herro should be more motivated than ever to perform well next year. The team is built perfectly for him to succeed at the highest level.
He and Bam Adebayo have the potential to turn into one of the best young duos in the league if they aren’t considered one already. The Miami Heat have a bright future ahead of them, and Herro’s rise to stardom continues next year.