Q: Why are the Heat still holding on to Tyler Herro? He is not a good fit with the rest of the team. Boston and New York improved by trading quality players for players that fit better. Shouldn’t the Heat follow suit? – Morty, Miami.
A: And why precisely does Tyler Herro not fit? Does he not fit because of his fit against the salary cap? Does he not fit because the Heat brought in the similar skill set of Terry Rozier? Does he not fit because he is surrounded by teammates with similar defensive liabilities? Now, if he, or any player, can be moved for an upgrade or at least a better roster balance, they yes, you go for it, as the Knicks did with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, or the Celtics did with Marcus Smart and Robert Williams. The cold reality is players in this league are considered assets, moveable pieces, including Boy Wonders. But the underlying narratives of Herro somehow failing the Heat are misguided. He is a good player, who has had a good start to his career, and has shown moments of a higher level, such as his performance in the playoff victory in Boston in April.
Q: Heat ceiling: No. 3 seed. Floor: No. 8 seed. Probable: No. 6 seed – Jeff.
A: I would have the Celtics, 76ers and Knicks on their own tier. And there also is respect for the Bucks and Magic above others. Then there are the Pacers and Cavaliers. So No. 4 might by the maximum upside, with No. 8 a logical floor. But, yes, there certainly is a legitimate case for the Heat contending with the Cavaliers and Pacers for No. 6.
Q: In my opinion, the Heat are doing enough to have a mediocre team just to keep enough people in the seats. – Joe.
A: Actually, even in the best of times, including those runs to the 2020 and ’23 NBA Finals, it has long been a case of just being good enough in the regular season to give themselves a chance in the playoffs. By now, it’s practically a Heat formula.