Tyler Herro missed Heat's storybook run to the NBA Finals but he's still in Miami
BOCA RATON — Tyler Herro was missed during the Miami Heat’s storybook run to the NBA Finals.
So says Miami coach Erik Spoelstra now. Their starting shooting guard became available for the last two games of the Finals and Spoelstra passed.
At the time, Spoelstra thought Herro would be too rusty to throw into the mid-Finals cauldron.
“We needed him," Spoelstra said last week at Miami’s training camp at FAU. “We really missed him during that playoff run. I think we could’ve been crazy dynamic offensively."
If Spoelstra is over-complimentary of Herro, it’s for a good cause. It’s Herro or Bust in 2023.
After Herro heard his name in every Damian Lillard trade proposal in the offseason, he’s back and the X-factor if Miami has any chance of duplicating another long spring soiree.
One NBA talent evaluator says Herro’s scoring average probably needs to bump from 20 points to 24 points in 2023-24 to make up for losses to the playoff starting backcourt of Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. The 23-year-old Kentucky alum won Sixth Man of the Year in 2022.
“He’s one of the most skilled players in this entire association and the planet," Spoelstra said. “There’s not that much he can’t do from a skill standpoint with or without the ball, which makes him so unique. Most great players who come into this league, they need the ball and high usage. Tyler can be that guy that plays off the ball. We’ve seen his great connection and collaboration with Bam (Adebayo) and Jimmy (Butler)."
It’s hardly the first time the Heat have tried to trade Herro for a star. His name was well-placed in Kevin Durant trade talks a year ago, for instance. Herro said mostly the right things last week, but he isn’t naive.
The day after Lillard was moved to Milwaukee, Herro showed a sense of humor. He responded to an ESPN tweet that stated: “Tyler Herro remains with the Heat after having his name linked to trade reports surrounding Damian Lillard.”
Herro replied:
“Until next summer.”
Herro has something to prove — especially to the Trail Blazers
Certainly, Herro will be balling like a man who still has something to prove — at least to make the Blazers look silly. Portland reportedly had zero interest in Herro.
“Everyone uses motivation in a different way," Spoelstra said. “I’m cool with that. I’m good with him using motivation, having a chip on his shoulder. That’s good for everybody.
“But there’s a deeper sense of motivation. That’s what I want to tap into — to become deeply motivated to come together and win. That’s the ultimate motivation. It’s the process younger players go through. He’s really starting to understand that."
Miami, league scouts observed, was more cohesive defensively with Herro absent in the postseason. He broke his hand in the first game of the first round vs. Milwaukee.
“This one felt a little more real than any of the other trade rumors in the past,” Herro said last week in his first comments since the injury.
The only edgy remark came when Herro indicated a lack of communication this summer wasn’t ideal.
More: How Miami Heat fan Jimmy Buffett got last laugh on that clueless NBA referee | Habib
“There was a little bit of frustration,” Herro said. “But it’s a business. I understand that. I would just like some clarity. I feel like I’ve gained enough respect around here to know what’s going on a little bit, whether my name is involved or not. That’s really it. I want to be involved. I feel like I gained the respect and I put the work in.”
Otherwise, Herro seemed to get it.
“Any time a player like Dame’s caliber is available, if I was a GM, I would be going after Dame, too," said Herro, a stud in the Heat’s trip to the Bubble Finals in 2020. “You want to do what’s best to put your franchise and organization in the best position to win championships.”
Last season, Herro was the Heat’s third-leading scorer at 20.1 points. He shot 37.8% from 3. The Heat are running it back — minus Vincent-Strus, the overachieving undrafted duo.
More: Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler debuts new ‘emo’ look. Social media reacts including teammates, fans
Kyle Lowry wants to start at point guard this season, though Spoelstra sounded unsure. Despite his eccentricities, Butler is not yet in decline. Adebayo is getting better and will be looked upon this season as a leader with veteran sage Udonis Haslem retired.
Herro starts his rookie contract extension wage at $27 million this season of a $120 million package.
“I don’t think I’m not wanted here," Herro said. "There’s a great player who was on the market at the time. I’m excited. But I’ll play here or somewhere else. It doesn’t matter to me."
It matters to the Heat that Herro is better than ever. Said Spoelstra, “The skill set continue to grow and improve because of his work ethic."
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tyler Herro is X-factor if Miami Heat want to return to NBA Finals
