In a summer filled with trade rumors, the Miami Heat’s decision to retain their young guard, Tyler Herro over acquiring the Washington Wizards’ star, Bradley Beal, who is now in the Phoenix Suns. The decision has left fans wondering why the Heat chose to do that. But now we know why. According to sources, there were financial concerns and a strong belief in Herro’s developing potential.
In the recent episode of The Lowe Podcast, ESPN NBA insider, Zach Lowe provided insight on the Heat’s perspective. He said that the franchise did not believe that Beal was worth $30 million more than Herro.
“I think that was a vote of confidence in Tyler Herro,” Lowe said. “From what I heard, the Heat looked at that situation and said ‘We don’t think Bradley Beal, who’s … seven years older than Tyler Herro, is 30 million dollars better than Tyler Herro going forward. We just don’t think the upgrade is worth it.”
The Miami Heat didn’t think Bradley Beal was that much of an upgrade, per ESPN’s Zach Lowe
“From what I heard, the Heat looked at that situation and said, ‘We don’t think Bradley Beal, who’s…seven years older than Tyler Herro, is $30 million better than Tyler Herro going… pic.twitter.com/ZCvFEScaWC
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 14, 2023
Can Tyler Herro become the next big NBA star?
While the financial aspect of the decision is evident, it doesn’t overlook Tyler Herro’s growing status in the game. Miami Heat’s head coach Erik Spoelstra praised Herro for his skills, stating “He’s one of the most skilled players in this entire association and the planet.”
Last season Herro was the third-highest scorer for the Heat with an average of 20.1 points a game and an outstanding 37.8% from beyond the arc. But it’s not just about scoring, his ability to work with team star players like Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler shows his versatility on the court.
Herro gave fans a glimpse of his current form in Miami’s first preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets. He led the Heat’s scoring with 22 points, five rebounds, and three assists in just over 23 minutes.
Tyler Herro through the years:
‘19-‘20:
13.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.2 APG, 42.8% FG‘20-‘21:
15.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 43.9% FG‘21-‘22:
20.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 44.7%FG‘22-‘23:
20.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.2 APG, 43.9%FGPredict his stat-line for this year! pic.twitter.com/qyllmdwJTW
— HeatMuse (@Heat_Muse) October 7, 2023
Herro was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year for the 2021-22 season and has shown consistent growth throughout his four years in the league. Last year only, he achieved career highs in rebounding and assists and topped the league in free-throw shooting with 93.4%.
Throughout the summer, Herro was subject to trade rumors, which may have fueled his desire to prove his value. If his early promise and the preseason performance are indicators of what lies ahead. The Miami Heat’s faith in Herro over Beal might be justified in the upcoming seasons.
