Speculation of Lillard trade to Heat rises amid Herro's Twitter antics

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Speculation of Damian Lillard trade to Heat rises amid Tyler Herro's Twitter antics

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 7/2/23

The Miami Heat are widely perceived to be the frontrunners to acquire Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard. Tyler Herro's recent actions on Twitter are only adding to the speculation.

On Sunday, the former Sixth Man of the Year removed all mention of the Heat from his Twitter bio, which previously read "Miami Heat Guard." Herro also scraped a header image of himself shooting at the Heat's team facility.

Tyler Herro has removed “Miami Heat guard” from his bio and changed his header pic.twitter.com/JxwRAYbG8V
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) July 2, 2023

Herro's Twitter scrubbing comes just one day after Lillard requested a trade from the Blazers after 11 seasons in Portland. According to Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes, the Heat are Lillard's preferred landing spot.

He's already on a flight to Portland
— Bench Warmer Banter (@bwb_sports) July 2, 2023

Should Lillard ultimately get his wish of teaming up with Jimmy Butler in South Beach it will almost certainly occur via a three-team deal. According to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, the Blazers are actively seeking a third team to help facilitate a Lillard trade by taking on Herro and his $30M average annual salary.

The Brooklyn Nets are among the teams that have been contacted to serve as a potential destination for Herro in a Lillard deal, per SNY's Ian Begley.

Herro, who has averaged 20-plus points in back-to-back seasons with the Heat, would give the Nets a tantalizing trio operating alongside Mikal Bridges and the freshly re-signed Cam Johnson.

The Brooklyn Nets are open to the idea of landing Tyler Herro, per @IanBegley

“It’s unclear which Nets players were discussed as part of the three-team trade and if Brooklyn had any other stipulations for completing a deal. But as of Saturday evening, the Nets were, at least,… pic.twitter.com/yYoLJl8GZG
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) July 2, 2023

Brooklyn finished the 2022-23 season as the NBA's fifth-most efficient team in three-point shooting (37.8%). Adding Herro, who boasts a career 38.3% three-point percentage, would make the Nets all the more lethal from beyond the arc.

Herro's time in Miami looks to be nearing its end. At 23, the Kentucky product is Miami's best (realistic) trade chip and should be at the forefront of any hypothetical package that lands Lillard with the Heat.

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