It's time for the Miami Heat to realize what it seems like the rest of the NBA already knows: Tyler Herro is not a superstar-worthy building block for a franchise. As the Heat explores the potential of giving him a superstar-worthy extension, the Heat must come to their senses if they want to avoid disaster.
And the honest truth is, Herro is not good enough on the defensive end of the floor to be considered the cornerstone for the franchise. Giving him a contract that would reflect that would end up being a huge mistake for the Heat.
As NBA expert Zach Lowe echoed on a recent podcast, Herro is a very good offensive player (and he's proven that consistently over the last few years), but he gets hunted on the defensive end of the floor. Herro was put into the second-most ball screens last season on defense, and he was often the key to success for opposing offenses.
If you are going to be the cornerstone of a franchise in the NBA, you can't be hunted by opposing defenses. That's not how it works. Herro can't be a net-negative on the defensive end of the floor, and expect to be considered the cornerstone of the franchise (or be paid like one).
The Heat's dilemma
This is where the Heat finds themselves in a dilemma. With a big decision to make on Herro's future, it's almost impossible to predict how the next few weeks will play out for both sides.
In theory, Herro deserves a contract extension. He's worked his way into an All-Star caliber player, and that can't be taken away. However, there's a difference between an All-Star worthy player and a franchise cornerstone. And what the Heat are looking for is the latter.
Herro is simply not that, and paying him a contract that lines up with other franchise cornerstones in the league would put this organization back a half-decade.
I'm sure Miami would love to sign Herro to a contract extension before the early window closes in mid-October, but it's hard to imagine how that can happen without absolutely breaking the bank for him.
Herro is very clearly an important part of the Heat's current blueprint. There's not much to argue against that. However, he shouldn't be viewed - or paid - as a franchise cornerstone. If the Heat don't realize that, they will be making a huge mistake in the next few weeks.
Perhaps more importantly, they'd be taking a path that will not lead them anywhere near close to a championship.