Kofi Inkoom
Tyler Herro’s offseason in 2023 was marked by frequent trade rumors, making it quite eventful. It’s evident that this tumultuous summer has had an impact on his mindset as he approaches the 2023-24 season.
Despite missing most of the playoffs due to a hand injury last season, Herro is determined to prove himself as an indispensable asset to his team.
This determination is amplified by the fact that his name frequently surfaced in the Damian Lillard-to-the-Heat trade talks, which ultimately concluded with Lillard joining the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster trade.
However, Tyler Herro asserts that he was not taken aback by this development, indicating a different perspective on the matter within the team
“they told me it wasn’t going to happen.”
He went on to say “Honestly, my goal this year is to get my name untouchable,” he told the Miami Herald. “That’s my goal. At the end of this season, they won’t want to trade me. That’s my goal.”
Herro further clarified that he never sought a trade amid the Lillard trade saga this summer. This decision stemmed from the Heat’s assurance that a trade involving him was not going to happen.
Entering his fifth NBA season, Tyler Herro’s name had come up in trade talks involving Donovan Mitchell and Kevin Durant before the 2022-23 season commenced.
While the Trail Blazers reportedly weren’t interested in him, it underscores his value to other teams in the league and his potential significance with the Miami Heat.
Herro, who earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award for the 2021-22 season, boasted impressive averages of 20.1 points, a career-high 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in the previous season.
During the offseason, Herro demonstrated his return to full health, and with the failed Lillard acquisition, he now carries the responsibility of being a crucial contributor for the Heat to maintain their status as contenders for an NBA championship.
The Heat’s disappointment in missing out on Lillard was compounded by his landing with a top rival in Milwaukee, where he will team up with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Additionally, Jrue Holiday ended up with the Boston Celtics as a result of the trade, making them more formidable competitors as well.
Herro, along with others involved, must now focus on moving forward and leaving these events behind as they prepare for the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season.