The Miami Heat haven't had the best offseason to date, and it could get even worse before it ends. That's because the Heat has a huge decision to make regarding a Tyler Herro contract extension. With many signs pointing to the Heat giving Herro the huge extension, there's one NBA analyst who believes it could end up being a move that dooms the franchise for years to come.
Even though it's not a foregone conclusion that the Heat are going to give Herro an extension, odds are that they'll probably lean in that direction. It may not be best for the future of the franchise, especially when it comes to financial flexibility, but it's hard to argue against how much the Heat truly values Herro.
You'd have to assume an extension is coming.
The Herro conundrum
In the eyes of Simmons and Ryen Russello, on a recent episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast, they predict this extension could end up being one of the worst contracts in the league. And if they "overpay" for Herro, it will almost certainly prevent them from making another big move forward to help get the franchise back on the right track.
On October 1, Herro is eligible to sign a three-year, $150 million extension with the Heat. Of course, the two sides could elect to negotiate at a lower number, but I'd find it quite surprising if Herro, on the heels of an All-Star season, is going to take "less" on an extension.
And, to be quite honest, how could you blame him for asking for the max? At least in his eyes, he's done everything he's been asked to do from the Heat, and then some. He's far from a perfect player, but the fact that he's evolved into an All-Star player is nothing short of impressive.
When the Heat selected Herro with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, I couldn't imagine this is what they expected. The development and emergence of Herro into an All-Star player has been a pleasant surprise for Miami.
However, part of that unexpectedness comes with the big decision on what to do about his future. The clock is ticking for the Heat, and they may not have much time to decide how they're going to move forward with their young guard.
It's far from an easy decision. On the one hand, there's an argument that suggests Herro deserves the money. Then again, it's also a move that could easily cripple the Heat moving forward. There's no question Miami is in a pretty unenviable situation with Herro, and a tough decision that will have a huge impact on the future of the franchise must be made.