By practically refusing to play Tyler Herro and Norman Powell together down the stretch, Erik Spoelstra was sending a strong message to the Miami Heat's front office. One that says a pretty pointed message loud and clear.
The message was that the front office is going to have to choose between the two offensive-minded guards this offseason. And with how this season ended, it's hard to imagine the front office ignoring it. The Heat needs to either trade Herro and keep Powell, keep Herro and let Powell walk, or move on from both of them.
Tyler Herro and Norman Powell never gelled together
On the season, Herro and Powell only played 257 minutes together while posting a -6.9 net rating.
After the All-Star break, Herro and Powell played just 114 minutes together. They had a -19.2 net rating in those minutes. Since returning from a late-season injury on April 7, Powell and Herro only played in 11 minutes together over a stretch of three regular-season games, posting a -33.3 net rating.
In the Play-In Tournament, they logged one minute on the floor together.
Sure, injuries did play a big factor in Spoelstra not being able to play Herro and Powell together more, but the stats do speak for themselves. And the fact was that Herro and Powell did not complement each other when they were on the floor.
But it wasn't just that their games clashed with each other; it was that they had a negative impact on the rest of the team, which is the biggest issue. That's why Spo moved away from it down the stretch.
The Heat have no easy decisions with Herro and Powell
That leads the team to a very difficult decision this offseason. It's not generally in the Heat's DNA to make changes just for the sake of change. They usually will only make a change if there's a path to upgrading their roster (or if there's a chance to save money for tax purposes, especially of late).
Because of that, it will be interesting to see how Miami's front office handles everything on its plate this summer. Herro is entering the final year of his deal (and will be seeking an extension, and an expensive one at that), and Powell will be an unrestricted free agent.
There are scenarios where the Heat keep both, bring back one, or none. At this point, it's almost impossible to predict how it will all go down this offseason.
One thing's for sure, and it's that Spo would probably much rather the Heat pick between the two. Even though he may never openly admit it, his actions down the stretch (and the stats that backed them up) have said it for him.
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