The Miami Heat have put themselves in a solid position heading into the upcoming season. With some key roster moves, the Heat have emerged as a dark horse in the East. However, this situation may be a lot more delicate than expected.
Talks about Tyler Herro's future contract extension have presented figures in the range of $42 million per year. Although Herro isn’t slated to enter free agency until 2027, he becomes eligible for a veteran extension as early as October this year.
This creates a pivotal situation for Miami, one that other teams are monitoring closely. NBA insider Brett Siegel reported on this and wrote:
"Tyler Herro becomes eligible for a three-year extension worth nearly $150 million with the Miami Heat in October before the start of the 2025-26 season. This is a situation teams are keeping an eye on, as Pat Riley has always been cautious with giving out extensions (see Jimmy Butler's situation for details). A decision to extend or not to extend Herro will tell the tale of how the Heat view themselves in the East."
Siegel's report suggests that if Miami opts not to offer Herro an extension, rival teams may explore trade possibilities for the guard. This opens the door to a hypothetical scenario where the Heat consider trading Herro instead of extending him.
Proposed Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Tyler Herro
Miami Heat Receive: Klay Thompson, Max Christie, Jaden Hardy, 2029 first-round pick (HOU swap), 2031 first-round pick
This trade proposal offers strategic advantages for both teams involved.
Miami's decision to part ways with Herro would be significant, especially given the current structure of their roster. Regardless, this trade would allow them to acquire a sharpshooter in Klay Thompson, along with two young players and draft compensation.
Thompson's addition could be considered the most noteworthy one. As an elite perimeter threat, the five-time All-Star brings scoring and veteran experience to the table.
Last season, he recorded an average of 14.0 points and 3.4 rebounds on shooting splits of 41.2% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. When considering that he was a tertiary scoring option for the Dallas Mavericks, these are impressive figures.
The 35-year-old may not be able to compensate for Herro's contributions, but he could help improve Miami's overall perimeter shooting to some extent.
In this deal, the Heat would also acquire two young players with a lot of potential in Max Christie and Jaden Hardy. Christie has shown a lot of upside as a two-way player. Since joining the Mavericks last season, he has put up an impressive average of 11.2 points and 4.2 rebounds. Miami could develop him as a key contributor off the bench.
Meanwhile, Hardy hasn't received much playing time, but he has shown potential as an isolation scorer. While this may not be useful in Miami's system, the Heat could still benefit from developing his talents. He averaged 8.7 points on 43.5% shooting from the field.
Along with the players, the Heat would benefit from building up their draft capital with two first-round picks. Although the Rockets own the swap rights to the 2029 first-rounder, the 2031 first-round pick is still immensely valuable.
Miami will feature a lot of young players next season. This move would ascertain the franchise's plans to develop a core for the future centered solely around Bam Adebayo.
The Dallas Mavericks stand to gain a lot from this trade. With the addition of Herro, the Mavericks essentially secure their backcourt rotation for the future as well. With Kyrie Irving and Tyler Herro anchoring the backcourt, the Mavs would feature one of the most unique guard pairings in the league.
Herro's development into a star over the last season was special. Embracing the role of Miami's primary option on offense, Herro recorded an average of 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. The 25-year-old showcased the extent of his offensive skill set, from scoring to playmaking, eventually earning him his first All-Star selection as well.
With Kyrie Irving still sidelined due to injury, Herro would step into the primary guard role. His addition would effectively complete the Mavs' trio, as the guard would be paired with Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg.
Herro's addition could be immense for the Mavs next season. While they are primed to be competitive, not having Irving is a significant obstacle to overcome. In this regard, having the 25-year-old take over the offensive load could help plug the gap until the Mavs star is back in the rotation. This greatly improves their chances of securing a playoff berth as well.
The Heat Would Be Wise To Retain Herro
The Miami Heat may have made questionable decisions with offering extensions in the past, but they would benefit from offering Herro an extension.
The 25-year-old has shown all the makings of becoming a perennial All-Star and leader for the team. He and Bam Adebayo took the Heat to the playoffs last season, displaying a grit and resilience that cannot be taught or cultivated through effort.
Herro shows all the makings of a franchise player. Parting ways with him at this juncture is more likely to set the Heat back.
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