The smoke surrounding a potential big move from the Miami Heat continues to gain traction, and if this is something that they go through with, it would almost certainly end with the team trading Tyler Herro. And, for a good portion of the fan base, it's one scenario that they've been hoping to see come to fruition for a while now.
For the right player, it'd be difficult to argue with the decision. But trading Herro just for the sake of trading him could prove to be an extremely risky move. Because of how dangerous an offensive player he can be, the Heat needs to be sure any trade involving Herro would be a clear upgrade for the team.
Over the last couple of years, Herro has quickly evolved into one of the most polarizing players in the league. Even after making his first All-Star team a year ago, it still feels like he's consistently trying to win over a portion of the fan base.
But even though he's far from a complete star player, mostly because of his inconsistencies on the offensive end of the floor, he has become one of the most consistent players on the Heat of late. That hasn't always been appreciated, and perhaps a trade may be what's best for both sides.
Does Tyler Herro need a fresh start?
Because of how he's, at times, unappreciated by the fan base, you can't help but wonder if a fresh start is exactly what Herro needs. If you ask him, he'll say all the right things, and I'm sure he loves Miami. But it's hard to envision a reality in which Herro is justly appreciated by the fans.
The dynamics surrounding that aren't simple, but there's a big part of it that revolves around the Heat trying to force him into a role that he's not built for.
Miami needs him to be a No. 1 option, and Herro, for as talented as he is, is not that.
He's a very good offensive player, but can't carry a team on that end of the floor. And that's not a bad thing. That's not a knock on him. But when the Heat asks him to fill that role, and he struggles in it, what do you expect the reaction to be from a fan base that has grown accustomed to excellence?
For the fans who are praying for the Heat to trade Herro, that day may not be that far off. Especially as he continues to struggle in the team's new offense, which may already be losing steam, Herro's future with the team is less concrete than it was just a few months ago.