The Coming of a Herro?

Tyler Herro posted a new picture to his 2.3 million Instagram followers Tuesday night showing off his post-summer physique. Headline news, right? While his ‘guns’ aren’t quite on the same level of ‘Stupidly Locked In-Jimmy Butler’, some have referenced Tyler’s post to Jimmy’s frame from pre-playoffs this year.

Aside from the aesthetic side of things, the new physique could be a turning point in the young man’s career. Coming off a sophomore year in which he improved yet underwhelmed – seemingly due to his lofty performances of the 2020 bubble run – Tyler was the talk of the town among Heat fans all summer long. In fact, he has been ever since his rookie year. First there was the Herro for Harden trade debate – irrelevant as it wasn’t just Tyler that the Heat needed to give up – then came the Lowry rumours at the deadline, and this summer the trade rumours surfaced again. It seems the Heat fanbase is split on Tyler. He’s either the second coming of D-Wade, or a poor man’s Jimmer Fredette (no offence, Jimmer), depending on which side of the fence you sit.

If you’re looking at numbers alone, only five sophomores outscored Tyler in his second season. It’s worth pointing out that those five are regular starters on their respective teams and contributing significant minutes, while the majority of Tyler’s role in Miami has been off the bench. The aforementioned bubble performances may have clouded our expectations going into year two, but the reality is that Boy Wonder did make improvements to his game. The question now however, will be if he can take another step, or leap even, in his development going in to his third season in the league. His physical development over the summer is a big positive and potential indicator on how this season could look for the 21 year old. If a bulkier Tyler Herro can confidently attack off the dribble, draw contact at the rim, and harass players on defense, it opens up a new avenue for the Heat. While he may not see the starting five all too often this season thanks in part to the Lowry deal and Robinson extension, Tyler should thrive in a bench unit that he and Victor Oladipo, when healthy, will run. The return of a fully healthy Oladipo as a primary ball-handler for the second unit will allow Tyler to play more off-the-ball; a role in which he thrived his rookie year. Taking away the playmaking responsibilities should enable Tyler to do what he does best; get buckets.

This third season has the potential to be the making, or the breaking, of Tyler Herro in Miami. He’s a national name now, has a song named after him, and is well and truly under the microscope of NBA fans outside of Miami who all seem intent on slandering him at every opportunity. Aside from the media attention, he’ll have people much closer to home who will be demanding improvement from him; Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra to name but a few. Not least Pat Riley, too. While Pat is evidently a big fan of the Kentucky alumnus, he surely won’t be afraid to ship him out should a trade for a disgruntled All-Star (Bradley, we’re looking at you…) be viable, or if Tyler is not performing up to standard.

It seems that the ball is both literally, and figuratively, in Tyler’s court. Let’s see if #14 can make himself the Heat’s Herro.