Does Tyler Herro deserve to be a starter already in Miami? He thinks so, but in the organization they don’t seem to see it so clearly. As soon as the season ended, the Heat forward commented that for the next course he hoped to be in the starting five; moreover, he claimed to have earned it. Pat Riley differs a bit. The Florida franchise president admits what a great player Herro is, but he believes he still has some aspects of his game to improve on.
“The next step for him, and I think we’re seeing it in the league if you want to win a championship and you want to start, is to become a two-way player. You have to improve in certain areas of your game. I saw improvements in defense from him this year, he has great feet and quick… But as far as being a starter, come to training camp and earn it. Sometimes it’s that easy. Sometimes it shows that the best fit for us was to start with someone who balances the team, who scores and who can handle the ball. If he wants to start, we’ll see him in October. That is something you earn. There is no doubt that he has the qualities to achieve it », he expresses.
Riley may be hitting the nail on the head. During the regular season, Herro dazzled with an average of 20.7 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, which led him to win the Best Sixth Man award. No one doubts his scoring ability and his offensive talent, but the playoffs have also seen defensive gaps. Seeing rivals trying to attack Miami through him has become commonplace. We’re not saying he needs to become an elite defender, but he does need to avoid being seen as a weak link.
Returning to Riley’s words, we don’t know how Herro has taken them, but what is certain is that they may have weight in his future. The forward could sign an extension this summer that could go up to a maximum of five years and $181 million. It remains to be seen how much money the Heat want to put on the table, how much Herro intends to get and, ultimately, if there is no agreement to see him become a restricted free agent in 2023. Yes, there are many unknowns to be cleared up with his present and future.
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