Miami Heat: Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo could raise Miami to contender status
There are two non-headlining players on the Miami Heat that can raise their ceiling.
Many would consider the Miami Heat offseason as a success. Although, as the 2021-22 NBA season quickly approaches, I can’t help but feel as if the Heat’s ceiling will ultimately be predicated on Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo.
The offseason additions of Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker, and Markieff Morris are expected to raise the expectations for the team this season, but they’re going to need other players on the roster to step up in a big way if they’re going to be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.
While most will be looking to Bam Adebayo to make a big progression, perhaps to a budding superstar, Herro and Oladipo could be wild cards for the team that many are overlooking. Even though the odds may be stacked against them, I don’t think it’s fair to completely discredit the potential for a bounce-back season from Herro or the potential impact that a healthy Oladipo can have on the roster.
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Even though Herro is coming off somewhat of a season down season last year, the hope is that with a new role (with less pressure) that he’ll be able to get back on track in his third season in the league.
As he plays more of an off-the-bench scorer role for the Heat, there’s a good chance that we could see the best version of Herro that we’ve seen thus far in his career. At the very least, Miami is hoping that his shooting efficiencies can replicate something close to what the Heat saw from him in the restart bubble – in which he shot 38 percent from deep.
If Herro can embrace and find comfort in such a role, there’s no question that he will be able to have the most productive and impactful season of his career thus far.
Victor Oladipo can be the ultimate wild card for the Miami Heat
For the Heat this season, the ultimate wild card has to be Oladipo. If, and that’s a big if, he can be healthy, he gives this team an added element that they wouldn’t otherwise have.
Even if he never gets back to the all-star version of himself, he can be a good defender and an added playmaker on the offensive end. And when you have a third playmaking option, which could potentially come off the bench, it will make the game so much easier for Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler.
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The Heat had an overall successful offseason but if they want to be viewed as a legit contender in the East, it may have to come from breakthrough seasons on the part of HErro and Oladipo.