What Will Miami Do Now That Tyler Herro Is Eligible for a Three-Year Extension?
As of today, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is officially eligible to sign a three-year extension with the team. After signing a four-year rookie extension with the team in 2022, Herro is entering a very important part of his career and possible future with the Heat. In 2019, the Miami Heat took a chance on Herro when they selected him 13th overall. Since then, the Wisconsin native has been named to the 2020 All-Rookie Team, earned the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year, and, most importantly, for the first time, was named to the NBA All-Star Team this year.
Now, with Jimmy Butler, who plays for the Golden State Warriors, comes a crossroads with Miami. The team is faced with a difficult decision. The front office, led by Hall of Famer Pat Riley, must decide whether to build around Herro, use him as a trade piece, or wait until free agency. Herro has shown flashes of being a star, but uncertainty remains about whether he can lead a team alone.
Under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, players who signed rookie-scale extensions, like Herro, can become eligible for a shorter extension. This can only happen once they have completed two years of that deal. Herro’s current contract runs through the 2026-2027 season. Now, this new rule allows the Heat to offer him a new three-year veteran extension that would run through the 2029-2030 NBA season.
The question remains: What will Miami do? Herro is one of the centerpieces of Miami’s young core. His shooting ability, improved playmaking, and rising star profile suggest he could be a centerpiece for the future of the team. However, with the guard being injury-prone and inconsistent in the postseason, his name has been brought up in many trade rumors, especially as the Heat continue to search for another superstar.
The question remains: What will Miami do? Herro remains one of the centerpieces of Miami’s young core. His shooting ability, improved playmaking, and rising star profile suggest he could be a centerpiece for the future of the team. However, with the guard being injury-prone and inconsistent in the postseason, his name has been brought up in many trade rumors, especially as the Heat continue to search for another superstar. With this being said, Riley must now decide to either build around the All-Star, use him as a trade asset, or wait until free agency. Signing an extension would show commitment to the future for both sides, yet limit the team's options on future trades and possibly contending for another championship.
The clock has started, and all eyes are on the Heat. It remains to be seen if Herro will be the face of the Heat’s future. If he is, he could be joining Miami greats such as Dwayne Wade, Alonzo Mourning, and Udonis Haslem, or he could be a stepping stone towards a new future for the franchise. Miami’s next move may determine whether “Heat Culture” will continue to thrive or crumble in this new era of basketball.
