The Miami Heat should be taking notes on what's happening with the Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young so they don't make the same mistakes with Tyler Herro. Because, as we're seeing play out with the Hawks, waiting too long to move on from a flawed star player could set the franchise back.
With everything that's been reported about Young's trade market, there's a good chance that Atlanta is going to have to attach an asset (likely a first-round pick) to get out from under his contract.
Have you told the Hawks that a few years ago, they would've laughed you out of the room? Nevertheless, it's the new reality for the team and Young.
Why the Hawks are struggling to trade Trae Young
What's the lesson here? Well, it's simple. If you wait too long to trade a star that has some clear and real weaknesses, the rest of the league is going to catch up to the name of the game.
But it's not necessarily the fact that Young is a flawed player that his trade value is so low right now. Sure, that's part of it. But the main reason why Young's trade value is so low is that he's due a big payday.
Young can opt out of his contract after this season and has made it clear he wants an extension, one that the Hawks want no business paying. The problem for the Hawks is that this is the worst time to trade a player like Young.
Not only does a team have to trade for Young on the risk that he may not pan out in their system, but they also have to make that gamble while paying him a sizable extension? That's a deal-breaker for many teams.
And for the ones interested, they're going to need added incentive to make such a move.
The Heat must avoid this same situation with Tyler Herro
This is the situation the Heat must work to avoid with Herro. Even if the Heat believes that Herro is a better player than Young, the difference between these two players is not significant.
And Herro's trade value, at best, is marginally better than Young's. But, if the Heat wait until Herro is in the same situation as Young, in essentially the final year of his contract with the big payday on the horizon, Miami is going to run into some of these same issues that the Hawks are facing.
That's one mistake that the Heat should be trying to learn from this entire Hawks situation.
What does this mean for Tyler Herro moving forward?
Interestingly enough, if the Heat wants to avoid this situation with Herro, there are two options. The first is to sign him to an extension. Unfortunately, at this point, I'm not sure the front office can honestly do that with their eyes on a move for Giannis Antetokounmpo (or another superstar) in the near future.
The second option is to trade Herro now.
Herro has one more year left on his contract after this one, and waiting to trade him until the offseason or even in-season next year could result in the same dilemma many other teams have with their lack of interest in Young.
The Heat certainly has a big decision to make with Herro, but if they're closely watching what's taking place with Young, the answer should be simple.