If the Miami Heat wanted to trade Tyler Herro, the perfect opportunity may have finally arrived. With the Atlanta Hawks looking to move on from Trae Young, a swap with the Heat, that includes Herro, could make some sense.
According to Marc Stein, the Hawks and Young are working with each other to find a trade that makes sense for both sides. At this point, especially with the way the rumor mill is churning, it would be shocking if Young was still on the roster beyond the trade deadline.
Whether or not the Hawks and Heat would be willing to go down that path with each other remains to be seen, but there is reason to believe that there could be a deal that makes sense.
The Heat and Hawks could be natural trade partners
There's been a history in the NBA of teams trading "one problem" for another. While I wouldn't completely suggest that Young or Herro are the Hawks' and Heat's "problems," both teams could be looking to shake up their respective rosters.
And, at least from the Heat's perspective, there's a world where a Herro for Young swap would certainly help.
In theory, the Heat could use a playmaker, and with Norman Powell brilliantly filling the role of Herro so far this season, you can't help but wonder if Miami would be open to such a swap.
Especially if it wouldn't cost Miami a future first-round pick, this could be an option that looks more and more realistic for the team. Of course, that's far from a guarantee, but it's certainly a conversation that the Heat should be open to.
Don't get it twisted; Young is far from the ideal "star" trade target for the Heat. He is just as much of a liability as Herro is on the defensive end of the floor, and wouldn't solve this team's limited ceiling problem.
But, sometimes, especially in the NBA, a team can greatly benefit from shaking up the roster.
That's what the Heat would have to be banking on should they be willing to go down this path. There are times when a small change in personnel could have a huge impact on the team.
Would that be the case for the Heat? Who knows, but the Heat may be willing to bet on it. This could be a worthy swap, especially if Miami is looking for an exit route when it comes to the upcoming decision on Herro's contract extension.
At the very least, it's an option for a Heat team that may not have some easy solutions when it comes to Herro's future.