Heat might have new plans for Tyler Herro as Damian Lillard trade saga lingers
In an offseason riddled with trade speculation, Tyler Herro has been prepping for a change of scenery. As it turns out, that change may occur while still remaining a member of the Miami Heat.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat may opt for Herro or Josh Richardson to fill the role of a primary ball-handler for its starting unit.
Gabe Vincent, who operated in the role down the final stretch of last season and into the playoffs, signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. Vincent's departure leaves 37-year-old Kyle Lowry as the lone true point guard on Miami's roster.
Herro, who earned Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2021-22, is no stranger to having the ball in his hands. The Heat's second-leading scorer over the past two seasons with a 20.4 PPG scoring average, Herro has operated both as a starter and a reserve during his time in South Beach. As a full-time two-guard starter last season, Herro played a career-high 34.9 MPG and totaled a career-best 280 assists.
Despite Herro's sound production, Miami would still prefer Lillard over Herro as their starting point guard entering the 2023-24 season — something the Blazers are all well too aware of.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Blazers are looking for the Heat to "scrounge" to find a trade package comparable to the one the Brooklyn Nets got from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Kevin Durant.
"They want the Heat to literally scrounge into every nook and cranny and produce everything they possibly can. The Heat don't feel a need to do that," Windhorst said on the "Hoop Collective" podcast.
Miami will continue to seek a third team to take on Herro's $120 million contract, as Portland has been adamantly against adding the guard to an up-and-coming backcourt headlined by rookie Scoot Henderson.
Trade talks between the two clubs have lingered on well longer than would have been expected following Lillard's trade request in July. With the seven-time All-Star so gung-ho on landing in South Beach, the Heat likely feel they're bidding against themselves with every offer they make. As for the Blazers, they have one chance to strike gold on a return for a player of Lillard's caliber, and they're not going to squander that opportunity by rushing through the process.
With Lillard under contract through at least the 2025-26 season, Portland is in no rush to strike a less-than-stellar deal, leaving no end in sight for the Lillard trade saga.
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