It sure sounds like Udonis Haslem thinks Tyler Herro is coming off the bench for the Miami Heat next season.
In an interview with Forbes, Haslem talked about his expectations for the Heat in the 2024-25 season. In addition to citing improved health and internal development as reasons for optimism, Haslem went out of his way to praise Herro and perhaps drop a hint as to the 24-year-old guard’s new role.
“We have a young superstar in Tyler Herro – Sixth Man of the Year and automatic 20 points off the bench,” Haslem told Forbes.
This isn't the first time Udonis Haslem has hinted that Tyler Herro will return to a sixth-man role next season.
As a reminder, Herro hasn’t come off the bench since the 2021-22 season, when he averaged 20.7 points on a career-high 44.7% shooting and won Sixth Man of the Year. In the two seasons since, Herro has started all but two games he’s played.
So for Haslem to talk about Herro coming off the bench, his info is either two years old or he’s looking ahead.
Those two games Herro came off the bench? They were in April, after he returned from a leg and foot injury that sidelined him for 20 games. He played 25 and 31 minutes in those games and averaged 19 points on 50% shooting. He had willingly accepted a bench role at the time, claiming to be the team’s “sixth starter” and embracing “more of a catch-and-shoot role.”
But then Duncan Robinson sustained a back injury, thrusting Herro into the starting lineup. With injuries to Terry Rozier and Jimmy Butler over the final stretch of the season, Herro remained in the starting five.
However, did that two-game stint give us a glimpse into coach Erik Spoelstra’s preferred starting lineup? Rozier, Robinson, Butler, Nikola Jovic and Bam Adebayo made up the starting five while Herro, Caleb Martin, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Haywood Highsmith and Kevin Love played as reserves.
This isn’t the first time Haslem eluded to Herro coming off the bench. In an appearance on ESPN after the season, Haslem claimed the Heat would be better off starting Robinson and bringing Herro coming off the bench.
“Tyler’s role for us, and the best role for him, is to probably be a sixth man,” Haslem said. “For our chemistry, we are better when we got Duncan Robinson in the starting lineup.”
A few days later during his end-of-season press conference, Pat Riley hedged when asked about Haslem’s comments.
“Tyler’s a starter,” Riley said. “Is gonna be something that you would ask a player one day whether it be or Rozier one day? … We don’t know.”
It’s possible Haslem knows something we don’t, but it’s more likely that these decisions won’t be made until training camp and the preseason. Butler and Adebayo are cemented as starters. Everything else is up for grabs.