If the Miami Heat are going to have any shot to stabilize their team over the second half of the season, Tyler Herro will have to play a big part in that. All of a sudden, Herro has quickly become the Heat's trade deadline acquisition that they didn't expect - or perhaps even wanted.
After making no moves at the NBA Trade Deadline, the Heat's reality couldn't be any clearer. And there's no better way to put it than how Norman Powell did recently:
"This is the team. This is who we have."Norman Powell
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't coming to save the day; neither is Ja Morant. The Heat are who they are, and they need to try to make lemonade out of lemons.
But if there's one difference that the Heat could be hoping for, it's a much more consistent Herro. He hasn't played in a game for the Heat since January 15, but the hope is that it will change soon. And, if it does, he could be the one outlier that has a chance to raise the team's currently limited ceiling.
Herro has only played in 11 games so far this season, but has been pretty productive in those contests, averaging 22 points and five rebounds on 50 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent shooting from 3-point range.
If he can extrapolate that production over the course of the final 30 games of the season (when he returns), there's a reason to believe the Heat can find some rhythm over the final stretch of the year.
The Heat need to make it work with Tyler Herro - for now
Even if it is just for the remainder of this season, the Heat must figure out how to make it work with Herro. Sure, things have not been smooth between the two sides, or the fan base, so far this season, but he's not getting traded.
He's on the team, and that will remain the case for the remainder of the year. It only makes sense to try to make it work.
There's been some tough sledding for Herro in the Heat's new system, but that's where Erik Spoelstra will need to find the sweet spot.
Whether it's bringing Herro off the bench or moving one of their regulars to the bench, this is why Spo makes the big bucks and why he's considered one of, if not the, best coach in the game. He's got to figure it out.
And if he can, maybe there's enough on this roster to salvage a season that is quickly trending in the wrong direction.
Heat fans were clearly dreaming of a much bigger acquisition at the trade deadline, but a Herro return will have to do. For now.