Miami Heat: Drafting Tyler Herro should be the final straw for Pat Riley

After drafting Tyler Herro with the 13th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, it’s time for the Miami Heat to move on from Pat Riley

Entering NBA Draft night, perhaps somewhat foolish, Miami Heat fans had high hopes for a new start. That’s generally what every offseason presents. However, for some reason, there was high optimism entering Thursday night.

Equipped with the 13th pick in the draft, at the very least, the Heat would be able to add a lottery pick. At the most, perhaps they could get off one or a couple of their long-term contracts to offer the team more flexibility for either this summer or next.

Either way, NBA Draft night should’ve presented a win-win opportunity of the Heat.

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Instead, though, Thursday night ended up being a terrible night for the Heat. That’s because Pat Riley and the Heat made a big mistake when drafting at No. 13. Not only did Miami not pull off a trade to cut salary, but with many high ceiling players still on the draft board the Heat elected to pick Kentucky’s sharpshooting Tyler Herro.

Now, before we move forward, let’s make one thing clear – this is not a hit piece on Herro. Herro could end up being a fine player for years to come. However, he’s not a player that a team like the Heat, in their current situation, should be targeting.

For example, Herro would be a great addition for a contending team. Or for any other team that is even included as a potential playoff contender – something that the Heat are not. Miami should’ve been targeting players, at 13, with a high ceiling and star potential.

No offense to Herro, he simply isn’t that. Even at his ceiling, Herro would probably be a great shooter, and not much more than that. But even that is no guarantee.

Herro shot 36 percent from 3-point range from deep last year, on 14 points per game. While that’s an above average percentage, it’s not necessarily “great.” And certainly doesn’t guarantee that he’ll be a great shooter at the NBA level. He also struggled on the defensive end, and if he struggled during college on that end of the floor it’s unlikely that he’ll be better at the next level.

What makes this pick even worse for the Heat is the fact that he isn’t even a great fit for the team. At 6-foot-5, Herro is likely a shooting guard in the NBA. The Heat doesn’t need another shooting guard. They’re stacked at the position, where they already have Josh Richardson (whose best position is at the 2) and Dion Waiters – two players that will likely demand big minutes ahead of Herro.

The Heat doesn’t have a true starting small forward on the roster and could’ve benefited from taking one at 13. Instead, Riley elected against it. Which makes absolutely no sense and should be the final straw for him.

This is unequivocally a terrible decision, one that should’ve come without repercussions. With what started as a potentially eventful night for Miami Heat fans, it ended as another disappointing moment. And began what will likely end up being another disappointing offseason.

Next. NBA: 5 things we learned from an eventful 2019 NBA Draft night. dark

Pat Riley will forever be a historic figure in Miami, but his time with the Heat needs to end. For the sake of both Riley and the Heat.

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