It's not always on the player when injuries take their playing time from them, especially if they're significant, potentially career-altering injuries such as the one Jimmy Butler suffered against his former team, the Miami Heat, earlier this week. His torn right ACL will sideline him for at least a year.
Tyler Herro is no stranger to sitting on ice because he's injured, and he's going through that reality right now as he's about to miss the Heat's remaining games on their current five-game road trip due to a costochondral issue with his ribs revealed in an MRI this week.
Herro's newest ailment is just another, stacked up on the multiple he's endured this season, and being in and out of the lineup has played a part in how Miami's season has gone, which, if you're paying attention, hasn't gone well. Herro's health and unavailability are the reasons why his mid-season grade falls considerably short, because, when he's on the floor, Herro is averaging 21.9 PPG.
Tyler Herro draws a C- for not being on the floor when the Heat need him desperately
Again, when Herro is on the floor, he's been one of Miami's top scorers this season. In 11 games played, Herro has put up 20 or more points in all but two games. He's shooting a respectable 35% from three, going 90% from the free throw line, and adding 2.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and one steal per game. All in all, these are some of Herro's best numbers in years (his second-highest points per game total in his NBA career).
That's the only good part of Herro's season, unfortunately, because it has only been 11 games, and now, he's slated to miss at least a few more. It's no coincidence that Herro's name has also been mentioned in trade rumors that have swirled around the Heat over the past several weeks. He is on pace to play the fewest games in a season since the 2023-24 season, when he played in 42.
Miami's current season has suffered from several factors, like Bam Adebayo's offensive struggles, for instance, but Herro's inability to stay on the court has been a significant reason the Heat have been so up and down, sitting at 22-21, and likely headed for another play-in scenario when the regular season finishes.
This is why Herro draws a C-, but it could be much lower if his production when he's playing wasn't as high as it is. His 21 points per game have saved him from a D. That said, when Herro returns from his latest injury, he has to find a way to stay healthy and on the court. He's a huge source of production for Miami, and they could certainly use everything Herro has to offer when he returns to play.