The Miami Heat went into the All-Star break with one of the best records in the NBA. They are holding down the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, tied with the Chicago Bulls for the best record at 38-21.
Sometimes, the best transaction that a team makes is the one that they decided not to do. The Heat was engaged in trade negotiations ahead of the trade deadline in 2021 that involved Tyler Herro but held off on making a deal.
The Kentucky product was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and burst onto the scene with his performance during the Orlando Bubble in 2020. He had high expectations going into his sophomore season but fell short of replicating the success he had as a rookie. Throughout the offseason, rumors swirled that he would be on the move again.
Miami decided to hold onto Herro and their confidence in him getting things back on track has paid off as he has soared to new heights in his third season in the NBA.
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Herro is the odds on favorite to win the Sixth Man of the Year award and certainly deserves it. He is averaging 20 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 32.7 minutes per game off the bench for the Miami Heat and has been an integral part of their success.
One NBA scout went as far as to say that Tyler Herro deserved an All-Star nomination for his performance this season. Jimmy Butler was the only member of the Miami Heat selected to participate in the All-Star Game, but this scout thought Herro should have been in the game as well.
“He got screwed out of the All-Star Game,” the scout told the Miami Herald’s, Barry Jackson. “He should have been there. He’s the league’s best sixth man this year, an All-Star level player. The fact he can now create his own shot and make it has taken him to a whole other level. Lou Williams won the sixth man award [three times], and Herro is better than Lou Williams.”
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The scout makes some good points. The All-Star game is supposed to highlight the best players in the league regardless of their roles. There should be a spot added to the teams for players that come off the bench, as they are just as important to a team’s success as any player in the starting five.
The NBA ensures that there are guards, wings and big men represented, which makes sense. The league is always adapting to changes and it would make sense to make a change ensuring that players eligible for the Sixth Man of the Year award are also included.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Top Candidates For Each NBA Award: All-Star Break Edition
It wouldn’t have been a reach to put Tyler Herro in the game, either. His statistics more than warranted consideration as he is having an excellent season coming off the bench for Erik Spoelstra, who was head coach of Team Durant against Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns and Team LeBron.
