Q: Ira, getting my news off of Instagram, Jimmy Butler is in China, Jaime Jaquez Jr. was in Mexico, Bam Adebayo was at the Olympics, but Tyler Herro posted he was at the arena working out. I don’t think he gets enough credit. – Franklin.
A: Of all things Tyler Herro, one that cannot be questioned is his dedication to the game. He, in many ways, is the definition of a gym rat. Now, players have the right to do as they please in the offseason, including travel. And it’s not as if Jimmy Butler and Jaime Jaquez Jr. also haven’t posted workout videos. (And Bam Adebayo certainly got his work in at the Olympics.) Perhaps the ultimate commitment from Tyler are the new tattoos across his torso that show his high school, college and Heat jerseys. There doesn’t seem to be a Plan B for a replacement NBA jersey. So perhaps Tyler recognizes something about his Heat stability that we don’t know. But, as mentioned in this space before, all the commitment in the world doesn’t trump availability. What the Heat need to see this season and going forward is a lot of Tyler Herro. A lot.
Tyler Herro has tattoos of his HS, college and pro jerseys ????
(via nolimitherro/IG) pic.twitter.com/jsXNFEhvlJ
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 17, 2024
Q: Since everyone is talking about the Dolphins backup quarterback, who, say you, should be the Heat’s backup center? – Jay.
A: First, this is not quite as positional as the Dolphins’ decision with Skylar Thompson or Mike White. Erik Spoelstra also has the option to go small by moving a power forward to the five at times. That said, based on the offseason commitment to Kevin Love, I would assume the initial approach would be to pick up where the Heat left off, with Kevin entering for Bam Adebayo. Eventually, Kel’el Ware could earn minutes there, as well. Of all the options, I would expect Thomas Bryant to at least start further down the rotation. But there also could be times when Nikola Jovic moves to the five.
Q: Nikola Jovic looked limited at the Olympics. Do we know where he stands? – Alex.
A: Well, he pushed through enough to get on the court at least nominally during Serbia’s run to Olympic bronze, so there’s that. But this additional time off to get his foot and ankle right certainly doesn’t hurt. There will have been six weeks between the end of the Olympics and the opening of camp to sort out his health. At the moment, there is no indication he won’t be ready.