3 Heat players who earned untouchable status, 3 who are expendable

Expendable: Tyler Herro

What seemed to be a promising future in a Heat uniform has turned out to be an injury-riddled and inconsistent tenure. After a promising rookie season, along with unforgettable performances during the NBA bubble, many thought Tyler Herro would be the third core piece alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

While he technically has been the third option on the court, he has not fulfilled his expected role to propel the Heat to championship status. Herro missed the 2023 playoff run after an injury he suffered in Game 1 of the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. This past season he only appeared in 42 games. These injuries have most likely been the reason for his scoring inconsistencies. Herro is capable of beating a team single-handedly, but if he is not having what seems to be a career night, he ends up being a liability on defense, along with being a very inefficient shooter on the offensive end.

He displayed these tendencies during the first-round matchup against the Boston Celtics. Herro had a chance to prove himself as a reliable option, however, he only did that in one game. In Game 2, he scored 24 points, along with 14 assists, and led the Heat to their sole playoff win, 111-101. Outside of his Game 2 performance, Herro only proved that he is an inconsistent and inefficient option on the offensive end. He finished the series averaging a disappointing 16.8 PPG, with 5.4 APG, while shooting 38.5% from the field.

If teams are still intrigued by the project of developing Herro into a star, he could be a key asset in a blockbuster trade. Herro is currently under a four-year, $120 million contract that runs until the 2027 offseason.