Miami Heat: Don’t sleep on Tyler Herro, who has looked great in summer league

The Tyler Herro hype is real, as he’s tearing up NBA Summer League, and we need not sleep on the Miami Heat rookie

For the most part, the 2019 NBA Draft was all about Zion Williamson. Ja Morant and RJ Barrett caught attention too, but this year was considered the typical top-heavy draft which comes along every once in a while.

However, almost every draft has a prospect which falls off the radar. Give them 4-5 years in the league, and we step back and wonder how they dropped so low in the draft. Tyler Herro has the potential to be that guy. A 6-foot-5 knock-down shooter and John Calipari certified, Herro can be a perfect match to the modern offense.

With the current NBA being perimeter orientated, floor spacing becomes increasingly essential. Herro can provide just that. With a smooth, silky release, Herro averaged 14 points a game, shot 35.5 percent from beyond the arc, and was elite shooting off the catch. He shot a whopping 62.5 percent and 55.6 percent from the left and right 3-point wing respectively, which can put teams in a quandary whether to rotate and help on drives to the paint.

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Having a guy who can play off the ball, not be ball-dominant, and still have the ability to put the ball in the hole at a high level is a skillset which is invaluable in the NBA.

However, Herro is not just a catch-and-shoot guy. He has shown enough evidence that he can score off the dribble. Creating separation, shooting off screens, mid-range pull-up jump shots, Herro has it all in his arsenal. They say variety is the spice of life, but it’s a necessity in the NBA and Herro is well equipped for it. While he still has to get stronger to finish around the rim at the NBA level, he has still shown that he can finish off both hands in the paint during his freshman year at Kentucky.

Ask any guard who has to go up against 7-foot shot blockers in the league, they’ll tell you how vital it is to have a floater in your toolbox. Herro has shown a staple diet of that as well.

While 14 points a game and 35.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc is not really groundbreaking as such, it’s important to note that he’s just 19 years old. When you’re that young, stats do not tell the entire story, and the eye-test becomes more prominent. With a sweet stroke and a smooth flow to his game, Herro definitely checks that box. Here are some statistics of a few of the best shooting guards of the past decade during their freshman year to give some perspective:

Ray Allen: 12.6 PPG, 40.2 3P%.
Klay Thompson: 12.5 PPG, 41.2 3P%.
Kyle Korver: 8.5 PPG, 43.4 3P%.
Devin Booker: 10.1 PPG, 41.1 3P%.

Yes, all their 3-point field goal percentages hovered just above the 40 percent mark, but none of their freshman year stats was an approximation of how they would fare in the league. It just goes to show how wary we must be before making premature judgements based on numbers at the college level. He might not be the first option on a championship team, but a valuable 3-and-D piece for a championship contender is written all over him.

That being said, Herro has a long way to go before he can reach his full potential defensively. Consistency and getting beat in isolation situations has been a cause for concern. However, his length and effort can make up for it if he puts in the work and is put in the right environment. With the rough riders down in Miami headed by Jimmy Butler, he is in safe hands.

With the likes of Butler, Dion Waiters, and Goran Dragic, the Heat have multiple guys who can dribble penetrate and create plays for guys like Herro who can fit in and be himself.

The upside is high, the potential is there for everyone to see, but it’s the intangibles which are going to be tested in the NBA. His motor, work ethic, ability to respond to adversity – are all going to be where it has to be for him to make a significant impact. Miami Heat fans, be very excited. The summer league is just a sign of things to come.