Miami Heat: Tyler Herro is playing his way into a starting role

As the Miami Heat head into the 2019-20 NBA season, it appears that they may have found another gem in Tyer Herro

For many Miami Heat fans, when it was announced that the team was selecting Tyler Herro with the 13th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, a sense of disappointment and confusion was in the air. After all, Herro was not a household name and, based on pre-draft projections, wasn’t a name that should be coming off the board in the lottery.

Nevertheless, the Heat trusted their draft scouts and selected the 6-foot-6 guard out of Kentucky. Fast forward a few weeks later, and Herro began to turn heads during his impressive showing in NBA Summer League.

In four games during the Las Vegas Summer League, Herro averaged 20 points on four assists per game. During two games in the California Summer League, Herro averaged 19 points, four rebounds and three assists per game.

More from Sir Charles In Charge

While he was impressive, was it really all that surprising? After all, it is just summer league. There are many summer league standouts that never quite translate that success to the regular season – ever. So while Herro did look impressive, his performance had to be taken with a grain of salt. Most of his damage was done against players that will almost never see the light of an NBA roster, unfortunately.

However, what he has done in preseason can’t be overlooked. Even though the NBA’s preseason is certainly a step below regular-season action, it’s absolutely enough to warrant attention. Which is why, after three games, it’s time to seriously think about the possibility of the Heat starting Tyler Herro at the point guard position to start the regular season.

Miami has one week until they officially open the season against the Memphis Grizzlies at home, and need to zero in on a starting lineup. For all indications, the only clear two starters set in stone are Bam Adebayo, who will start at center, and Jimmy Butler, who will likely be the team’s small forward.

After that, the team has to make a decision on which two starts between these three: Justise Winslow, Goran Dragic, and Dion Waiters. However, with the way Herro has played to start preseason – he’s averaging 16 points on 53 percent shooting from 3-point range during his first three preseason games – you can make the argument, and a good one at that, that perhaps it should be Herro that should get the nod at shooting guard, and then decide between Winslow and Dragic at the lead guard position.

While it might be a bit of a rash decision, considering that it’s only been three games. However, based on everything that has emerged from training camp, and even from the mouth of Jimmy Butler who has gone out of his way to praise the rookie, perhaps Herro really is the steal of the draft.

Here’s @jimmyButler on @raf_tyler ...

“He’s a player. This city is going to fall in love with him.”

(Butler changed his tune when Herro walked by)@5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/tnpb6tO0Qh
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) October 9, 2019

The Miami Heat were already trending up heading into the 2019-20 NBA season after the acquisition of Jimmy Butler during the summer, but if Tyler Herro emerges as a consistent contributor for the Heat this season don’t be surprised if the Heat’s ceiling is a bit higher than a 4-6 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Who would’ve predicted that Tyler Herro, one of the most unpopular picks of the 2019 NBA Draft, could potentially having this type of impact on the Heat this early?