One former Eastern Conference executive didn’t hold back on Miami Heat shooting guard Tyler Herro during a conversation with NBA insider Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
“He needs the ball in his hands,” the former Eastern Conference executive said. “They probably play better as a team without him. Lowry is Lowry. Vincent is Vincent. Maybe they’re not as productive with Herro. Not to mention, he’s a hole in their defense.”
The Heat made it to the 2023 Finals without Herro, who got hurt in Game 1 of the first round versus the Milwaukee Bucks. The Kentucky product broke his right hand and underwent surgery. He was active for Game 5 against the Denver Nuggets but didn’t play.
Denver defeated Miami in the Finals in five games.
Herro averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Heat during the regular season while shooting 43.9% from the floor, 37.8% from beyond the arc and 93.4% from the free-throw line. He was third on the team in points per game, trailing only All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
The Heat signed Herro to a four-year, $120 million rookie scale extension in October 2022. The 23-year-old will make $27 million next season.
“I could see teams that struggle to sign free agents lining up for Herro [if the Heat made him available],” the former exex said. “Suggested franchises include the Charlotte Hornets, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards,” Pincus wrote.
Herro has career averages of 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists with the Heat. It will be fascinating to see if he’s traded this offseason or brought back by Pat Riley. Most people around the NBA believe Riley will be very aggressive this offseason in his attempt to improve the roster around Butler and Adebayo.
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