The Jimmy Butler trade saga dominated the Miami Heat's 2024-25 season. His wish to be traded came true in early February when the Heat sent him to the Warriors, marking the end of his five-and-a-half seasons in South Florida. His departure officially paved the way for Tyler Herro to take over, turning the former Sixth Man of the Year into the No. 1 option.
Less than two weeks after the Butler trade, Herro traveled to San Francisco, Butler's new home, for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. The occasion was monumental for Herro, as it was his first All-Star appearance. It marked the beginning of the Heat's next chapter.
Herro and Miami closed the regular season with the tenth-best record in the East, securing a trip to the Play-In Tournament. They beat the Bulls in their first game, extending their season, and took down the Hawks in overtime in their second, securing the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. Herro led the Heat in scoring in both games, dropping 38 against Chicago and 30 against Atlanta.
There was no magic for Miami against Cleveland, the top seed, as the Cavaliers swept the Heat in the first round. Herro averaged 17.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in the postseason, shooting 41.5% from the field and 31% from three. His worst game came in the team's final of the season, a four-point performance in 31 minutes in Game 4.
The Heat need more than Herro to return to top team in the East
Herro went from thinking he was going to be traded by Miami to turning into the team's best player. The leap he took in his sixth season was a result of the work that he had put in over the years, particularly in the last two, overcoming the feeling of being "unwanted" by the Heat.
The question is whether he'll be able to keep it up. Aside from Game 2 in the playoffs, he struggled as the team's No. 1 option. Cleveland's defense dialed in on him, making it hard for him to find holes on offense. It was a learning experience for Herro, but it proved that Miami still needs a player who can be the top option and take over games, like they had with Butler.
The season that Herro had shouldn't be overlooked, despite how things ultimately flamed out in the playoffs. He dealt with the added weight on his shoulders better than expected, but it still wasn't enough. Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury in the playoffs opened up the path for teams like Miami to go on the hunt for a star in the hopes of making a deep playoff run. The bottom line is that the Heat need more than Herro.