The Miami Heat Must Move On From Tyler Herro

Yes, it’s one of the most cliché sayings in sports, but it still hits home. During the Jimmy Butler saga, the Heat became frustrated due to Butler’s lack of playing time over the years. It was ultimately a sticking point as to why Miami did not want to pay him, and everyone knows how ugly that situation became.

Herro began the season sidelined after undergoing ankle surgery in the offseason. Upon his return, he suffered a contusion on his right big toe, which put him back on the bench. His last game action was on December 9 in the NBA Cup tournament.

Uncertainty about Herro being fully healthy for consecutive seasons has to be a thorn in the Heat’s side. With that being said, Miami has shown the team can stay afloat without him. The biggest example of that came in 2023, when they were the eight seed and made the NBA Finals without him.

When on the court, Herro can score at a high level and at an efficient clip, but health isn’t his only concern.

Being A Defensive Liability Hurts Come Playoff Time

There’s a fair number of players in the league who are elite offensive players, but just can’t hold their own defensively. Herro is in that category of players who get hunted nonstop, and that was vocalized by Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland in the 2024 playoffs.

Late in games, teams often decide to attack mismatches and put weak links in every action to free up players. There are contending teams that come across that issue, such as the Los Angeles Lakers with Luka Doncic. However, the main difference is that Herro is not as elite offensively as a Doncic, Stephen Curry, or Jalen Brunson.

With the current roster construction, there are not a ton of guys on the roster who get involved in multiple actions due to their defensive deficiencies. Even if the guards (minus Norman Powell) can’t score as well as Herro can, it’s not as if the offense has completely fallen apart in each of Herro’s missed games. Of course, there have been off nights, but anyone can point to bad offensive nights for any team.

End Of My Miami Heat Rant

This is not to say that Herro has not improved or has plateaued as a player. From watching him when he first joined the Heat to now, Herro has grown to be someone who scores all over the court at a high level. His three-point shooting percentage is great given his increased volume, and he is now showing a knack for getting to the line more.

The problem is, given what players are being paid now, with the combination of Herro’s health issues and glaring problems on defense, committing to a large extension would be a mistake. Fresh off of what transpired with Butler, what message would that send if the Heat paid Herro his money, knowing he’s missed so many games? Granted, Herro is much younger, but this is a trend, not a one-off.

If the right deal is there, the Heat should jump on the opportunity of moving Herro and collecting assets that can benefit the team moving forward.