The Miami Heat have dealt with injuries all season, most notably to Tyler Herro. They have also run into a problem — a good problem, mind you — without their one-time All-Star.
As head coach Erik Spoelstra has helped incorporate this up-tempo, free-flowing offense, the Heat’s bench and depth have been one of their biggest strengths through 34 games. Herro has missed all but six of them, and will be slated to miss his 29th game of the season Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
While there’s still no timetable for his return, who goes to the bench when he comes back, assuming they’re healthy?! Let’s examine!
Tyler Herro himself:
Case For Herro starting: Through six games, Herro’s averaging 23.2 points on 50.5 percent shooting and 40.5 percent from 3-point range. The Heat’s starting unit — save for Norman Powell — has missed a consistent scoring punch, at times. It may be Andrew Wiggins some nights, or Adebayo, or even Ware. But Herro raises their floor offensively.
Case against: There may not be a single player who can make up for Herro’s defensive deficiencies. But I do have genuine concerns with a Powell-Herro-Ware trio defensively, assuming Ware remains in the starting five. That’s a lot of strain on Mitchell and Adebayo, even when the former gets relentlessly put in ball-screen actions. Scoring 15 in the first five minutes sounds great, but when you allow 19?! Not so much.
Norman Powell:
Case For Powell staying with starters: Powell’s been the Heat’s best offensive player this season, and I don’t think it’s been particularly close. He’s averaging 24.2 points and 3.9 rebounds on 48.1/40.5/86.8 shooting splits. He’s played too well to get moved to the bench, at this current juncture.
Case against: The 11-year veteran finished top-5 in Sixth Man of the Year voting with the Los Angeles Clippers twice (2022-24). And he would add even more firepower alongside Jaime Jaquez Jr., plus a combination of Pelle Larsson, Dru Smith, Nikola Jovic and Kasparas Jakucionis. He can jell with that group.
Davion Mitchell:
Case For Mitchell staying: Of their current options to start, Mitchell is, by far, their best passer and point-of-attack defender. He helps run the ship on both ends of the floor; this can’t work without him. Imagining Miami’s perimeter defense without Mitchell is … yeah. I need a drink after thinking about that, and I don’t drink.
Case against: Mitchell is one of the Heat’s most malleable players who can perfect any role across 25-30 minutes. That’s really all I got. I don’t think there’s a scenario where he can’t start, unless it’s for Smith or Jakucionis.
Andrew Wiggins:
Case For Wiggins staying: Wiggins is the Heat’s best wing defender, not named Bam Adebayo. At times, he does get blown by. But Wiggins has remained incredibly sturdy in space against 3s and smaller 4s. He also does the dirty work on the glass and, while he’s streaky, is shooting 40.0 percent from 3-point range. Having Adebayo or Ware cover up for Miami’s lack of size between Mitchell-Herro-Powell feels like too much.
Case against: If the goal is really to make this Adebayo-Ware frontcourt work, I’m not sure if Wiggins is the right fit. You need more playmaking to maximize their skillsets. We’ve seen Mitchell be capable of that. But in this new offense, Herro’s not the answer to do that. Powell’s a better one. Larsson’s a very good connector. All are better options than Wiggins.
Kel’el Ware:
Case For Ware staying: He’s been too good to sit … lately. Ware’s consistency has waxed and waned. But in his seven games prior to their six-point win over Detroit, he was averaging 18.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks on 77.3 percent true shooting. When he’s impacting winning, he deserves to start. But that’s a pretty big if, sometimes.
Case against: In pockets, he does help free up Adebayo. But they have been catastrophically bad next to each other this season, especially defensively. Their fit together remains a big work in progress. And I’m not sure if you can afford to have at least three subpar defenders share the floor (with Ware, who’s improved, being one of them, in this case).
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What Matt would do: Likely bench Wiggins
What Matt thinks Spoelstra does: Say that trying to predict whatever Spoelstra conclusively lands on is a fool’s errand because he’ll likely adjust depending on the situation. There’s a reason why he’s the head coach, not the guy typing this.
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The Verdict:
In essence, Herro scores a lot, drawing defensive attention, and while he gives up points, his overall offensive contributions usually make him a net positive contributor for the Miami Heat.
The above in response to ‘does Herro give up more points than he scores?’
Spo has already learned that throwing Herro into the fire immediately upon his return from injury was a huge mistake. He was not yett fully integrated into the Heat’s new running offense and disrupted the team’s chemistry, flow and pace. It also changed roles for certain players, especially Mitchell, Powell and Jaquez. It took a month for the team to recover from that mistake.
Herro has played for years in a system with a slower pace and much more use of the pick and roll. His mindset and playing style must change. That won’t happen immediately upon his return.
Bringing Herro in off the bench would be far better for him and the team. Once he is fully integrated into the offense, Spo can then decide who to start and which combinations of players to use together under different circumstances.
As a member of the second unit, Herro would be able to adjust to the pace of the new fast paced, sometimes wreckless offense while playing alongside Jaquez He would also be able to exploit inferior defenses while improving his production, visibility and marketability (should a trade opportunity present itself) before the trade deadline or by next summer.
With Mitchell at PG, Powell at SG and Wiggins at SF, the current starters seem to be meshing together much better the longer they play together. Powell is not as streaky as Herro. He is also a much better clutch player in the closing minutes Mitchell is a better point of attack player on defense and pass first player on offense. Wiggins is a better all around defensive player than Herro.
Bringing Herro off the bench against second units will maximize his offensive value while helping to conceal his defensive shortcomings.
playoff ty what a performer in the real season
wiggins is a better all round player than zero
I’m sorry but Tyler no longer has a place on this team, or he’s no longer needed I should say. Norm in the starting lineup is just as good or better than herro, Jaime with the 2nd unit has been outstanding this year and in the running for 6moty. Now is the time to to strike on a Herro
True. You, I and many others have been saying that Herro would be better coming off the bench. And, that he clearly is the most expendable player outside of Rozier and Simone. The problem is, he has virtually no trade value right now. We are likely stuck with him at least until the end of the season when a team needing more offense could take him as a one year rental.