Tyler Herro posted an Instagram story that has once again stoked the relentless rumors surrounding his potential inclusion in a trade package aimed at acquiring superstar guard Damian Lillard for the Miami Heat.
In his Instagram story, Herro posted a picture of himself seated on an airplane, accompanied by intriguing lyrics from Rod Wave’s track “Nostalgia.”
“Ain’t no friends in this business, cutthroat competition,” the Instagram story quoted part of the lyrics.
The song goes on:
“Lot of n****s get inside this position and lose the vision, so I’m focused more than ever, been grindin’ like we ain’t winning.”
With only a few days remaining until the NBA media day on Oct. 2 and the commencement of training camp on Oct. 3, the anticipation surrounding potential roster changes, including the speculated Lillard trade involving Herro, is intensifying.
The timing of Herro’s Instagram story was particularly noteworthy, coinciding with comments from an NBA analyst who expressed the expectation of a Lillard trade within the next 24 hours.
“Damian Lillard is going to get traded very soon,” John Gambadoro said. “I’m expecting a trade imminently. I would even say probably within the next 24 hours. I am expecting, from what I’m hearing, a Lillard trade.
Tyler Herro’s Impact Recognized
According to NBA writer Marc J. Spears, Tyler Herro is not receiving the recognition he deserves within the public eye.
In an appearance on The Oregonian’s Sports by Northwest podcast, Spears said Herro brings unique value to the basketball court.
“When he’s on the floor — there’s some shooters that are on the floor that put fear in your heart, and he’s one of them, and those are hard players to find,” he said. “There’s a lot of guys shooting 3s. There’s not a lot of guys you fear shooting 3s.”
Last season, Herro averaged 20.1 points per game, marking the second consecutive year in which he tallied over 20 points per game. He also led the league with a free-throw percentage of 93.4%.
Throughout his four-year career, Herro has been an efficient 38.3% 3-point shooter.
“If you could get Herro and [Jaime] Jaquez, and somebody was like ‘Well they got [Anfernee] Simons,’ so what? Add pieces,” Spears said. “You can make other moves later, but I’m trying to get more depth. Are you convinced that everybody on that roster is better than Tyler Herro? He’s pretty good.”
Tyler Herro’s Uncertain Future
Tyler Herro was once considered a core member of the Miami Heat, but things have changed greatly since his glory days in South Beach. Now, in the aftermath of a miraculous playoff run, his future is mired in uncertainty as the Heat attempt to pull off the trade of the summer.
As any player will tell you, the NBA is a business, and guys are usually prepared for the worst when it comes to being traded. In the case of Herro, however, he’s been mixed up in rumors nonstop for months now and it has clearly taken a toll on his mental health. Besides his most recent message, Herro has expressed his discontent in the past for what he sees as a betrayal by his own organization.
“I know—I’m fairly certain about this, Tyler Herro has not been pleased by all that’s gone on in Miami this offseason,” claimed Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix. “How he’s been bandied about as filler in trade talks… He has not been happy with how his name has been tossed around in all these trade talks.”
Contrary to popular belief, Herro is actually a really solid perimeter player. Last season, despite his injury early in the playoffs, Herro was an important player for the Heat and he kept them afloat during an up-and-down campaign with an average of 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 43% shooting. But when you compare his talent to that of a top superstar, like Damian Lillard, the choice is clear on who the Heat should be going for.
Miami’s Pursuit of Damian Lillard
It was reported years ago that Damian Lillard was on Pat Riley’s radar, and there even some claims that they were holding on to their assets with hopes of saving them for a Lillard trade. Fast forward to today, and the Heat are in a prime position to land their dream superstar — but Tyler Herro alone is not enough to get the job done.
It will take a massive haul for the Blazers to give up Lillard, and the Heat are running out of time to pull it off before the start of the season. As much as they want to avoid giving up a haul of assets, they might be better off meeting whatever price Portland sets for their franchise guy. Either way, Herro is gonna have to leave one way or another and leave behind everything he’s known in the NBA. It’s just the latest example of how ruthless the business can be sometimes.
Tyler Herro’s cryptic Instagram post has undoubtedly added more intrigue to the ongoing trade saga, leaving fans and analysts alike speculating about what’s next for the talented young guard. As the clock ticks down to the start of the NBA season, all eyes will be on Miami and the potential blockbuster trade that could reshape the league’s landscape.