Tyler Herro may have made a big mistake by not meeting in the middle with the Miami Heat on a contract extension (that would've made sense for both sides) as his nightmarish season continues.
Herro made a decision to bet on himself this season in hopes that he would earn his way toward an extension with the Heat that was closer to the $50 million per year number that he was eligible to sign this offseason. The Heat clearly didn't want to pay him that and agreed to kick this decision down the road.
So far, that decision has not paid off for Herro.
Tyle Herro has had a disastrous season
Unfortunately, after Herro has only played in six of 34 eligible regular-season games so far this year, he's made his future that much more complicated for the Heat to figure out. The emergence of Norman Powell in the Herro role so far this season hasn't helped his case much either.
It's gotten to the point that you can't help but wonder if Herro is slowly becoming much more expendable for the Heat heading into the future. And if that is indeed the case, Herro could all but forget about the near $50 million per year contract that he may have been angling for before the start of the season.
In October, Herro was eligible to sign a three-year, $150 million extension with the Heat. However, both sides decided to table those contract talks after not getting close to a deal.
Considering how much time Herro has missed this season, he's far from answering those same concerns (by the Heat) that kept them from going all-in on an extension.
Tyler Herro has not answered his long-term concerns this season
Even as talented a player as Herro is, there are two big concerns with him. One, he's yet to prove to be a durable player. He's battling injuries all throughout his career, and it's a fair concern/criticism. Second, he's a liability on the defensive end of the floor more often than not.
So far this season, both of those concerns have not be quelled by the All-Star guard.
Herro has already missed 28 games so far this season, and that number is likely going to grow. First, Herro was recovering from offseason foot surgery that forced him to miss the first month of the season. Then, it has been a toe injury that has forced him to miss significant time in December and now January.
But even when Herro did play for the Heat this season, he was battling those same defensive issues that he's faced throughout the majority of his career. The same issues keep him from being in the same conversation as some of the more elite offensive players in the league.
At this point, with everything that has happened surrounding Herro this season, it's hard to say how he's improved his value - not only to the Heat, but also across the league.
That, more than anything, is one of the bigger reasons why the argument can be made that Herro's big gamble heading into this season has been all but a disaster.
It's hard to envision where things go from here between Herro and the Heat, but it's pretty clear he is further away from that huge contract extension with the Heat than he was just a few months ago.