The Miami Heat have been a consistent playoff team for the better part of the last decade. This summer, Pat Riley made the necessary moves to hopefully elevate them to the next level.
The additions of Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker highlight a fantastic offseason. However, the one thing that could determine Miami’s success this season will have to come internally.
Tyler Herro struggled in the playoffs last season, causing many to turn on him this offseason. However, his development might be the key to the Miami Heat reaching their full potential.
If Herro can take his game to the next level this season, the Miami Heat will be the best version of themselves. Why is Herro the most important puzzle piece this year?
Tyler Herro is the most important puzzle piece for the Miami Heat: A cheap deal for elite production
At his best, Herro projects to be an elite bucket-getter in the NBA. This is the role the Miami Heat will need him to play this season.
Though Miami has three All-Star level players on the roster, none of them are score-first players. Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry have been pass-first players, and Bam Adebayo’s main role is on the defensive end.
This means that the Heat could use a guy to get buckets in bunches, and Herro might have to be that guy. The best part about it? Herro doesn’t make a ton of money.
With Miami’s top players making a ton of money, it is crucial that the Heat get production from players who don’t. Since Herro makes less than $10 million right now, he falls under that very important category.
Tyler Herro is the most important puzzle piece for the Miami Heat: Leading the bench
If he makes the necessary improvements, Tyler Herro should be in the conversation for the Sixth Man of the Year award. He’ll be the first player off the bench for Miami this year.
The Heat have a ton of quality players in their rotation, but their depth gets questionable pretty quick. Outside of Herro, Markieff Morris, and Dewayne Dedmon, their bench has a bunch of question marks.
A lot of their depth players could end up being great, but they haven’t proven anything yet. Players such as Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Omer Yurtseven have yet to produce consistently on the NBA level.
Miami needs someone to lead their bench unit, while also getting significant minutes with the starter. Herro will almost certainly have to be that guy.
Herro will have to step up his game from last season and continue to improve as both a scorer and passer. He’s going to be a leader more than he ever has before.
The Heat’s stars can’t play every minute of every game, meaning Herro will have to play very important minutes. He can’t be shooting as inefficiently as he did in the playoffs last year.
If Herro plays well off the bench, the Miami Heat will be in a great place. However, if he plays poorly, they could be in some trouble when they go to their bench unit.
Tyler Herro is the most important puzzle piece for the Miami Heat: An elite supporting piece
All of the best NBA champions in recent years follow roughly the same formula. They have a core of elite players as well as a great supporting cast.
Take a look at the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks last season. They had three All-Star caliber players, but also some great players supporting that Big 3.
Milwaukee had Bobby Portis, the Lakers had Kyle Kuzma, and the Warriors had Andre Iguodala. Each team had a quality player supporting their main pieces.
Now, this is not putting Tyler Herro in the same conversation as those three players. In actuality, Herro has the chance to be an even better supporting piece than any of them.
Herro is still so young and full of potential, there’s no telling how good he could be at his peak. If he buys into his role this year, there’s no reason he can’t play at an All-Star level or close to it.
This would give the Heat one of the best sixth men in the league, as mentioned previously, and someone they can rely on in the closing minutes of games.
Many teams spend so much money on their main pieces that they don’t end up having elite depth. If Herro can develop into the player many believe he can be, the Miami Heat can change that narrative.