Mario Chalmers feels Tyler Herro is not the right superstar for Miami Heat, ‘when they have a true point guard’

Herro is not a pure point guard, which could limit the Heat

Herro is primarily a shooting guard, as is evident in his score-first approach. He has developed into a decent point guard, but he is not at his best when conducting the offense.

Of course, the league is filled with players like this, as the reigning MVP and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a hybrid guard. Herro has decent playmaking numbers, averaging 5.5 assists per game in the 2024-25 season.

Despite these promising numbers, Chalmers is adamant that the Heat do not need Herro as the point guard. The 2025 NBA Draft proved Miami needs guard depth in that position, as they selected “steal of the draft” Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th pick.

The 19-year-old will probably be their long-term point guard, opening the door for Herro to return to shooting guard. That should appease Chalmers, but it may not happen for a while if Herro continues as their lead guard.

“I’ve always said this about Miami. Miami’s at its best when they have a true point guard. I think that’s kind of what they’re missing right now,” Chalmers said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.

“Tyler Herro can’t play the point, but he’s a better scorer, so you need him to score. Bam’s your defensive anchor that can score. Andrew Wiggins is a scorer.”

“I like Davion Mitchell. I think he’s a perfect hard-nosed defender and person who can run the team. So I think they have a better chance with him at the rim.”

Spoelstra will make the final decision for his point guard

As one of the best coaches in the NBA, Heat fans can trust head coach Erik Spoelstra with his decisions. If he sticks with Herro at point guard, he will likely have a game plan in place to help the team.

Herro is a proven All-Star now, so he is doing something right. Chalmers is still making a valid point because a true point guard has different priorities when compared to Herro.

He has developed into a strong playmaker, going from 4.5 to 5.5 assists per game in one season. He now has the criminally underrated Norman Powell to help him and Bam Adebayo with the offense. Powell is a significant acquisition, as he will be a useful teammate who can finish inside and shoot well from the perimeter.

If Spoelstra can set up a game plan that takes advantage of Herro’s burgeoning skill set, the Heat are in a good spot. The Heat can become a top team again, especially as the Eastern Conference will have fewer top teams due to major Achilles injuries to superstar players.