It might finally be time for the Miami Heat to move on from Tyler Herro.
If the franchise is truly aiming to land a superstar in 2026, keeping Herro long-term—particularly offering him the type of contract he’s expected to seek—may not be realistic. A lucrative extension for Herro would likely clash with Miami’s ambitions of building a contender through a major acquisition.
Based on their current offseason strategy, it even seems like the Heat are quietly preparing for such a future.
Tyler Herro Has Outperformed Expectations
To be clear, this isn’t about Herro underperforming. Despite criticism he’s faced—especially online—Herro has consistently delivered for the team. In fact, he’s done even more than what’s been asked of him.
He’s relentlessly worked on his game, culminating in his first All-Star selection last season. For someone drafted outside the top 10, Herro has already surpassed what most thought possible.
Still, he’s entered a tricky situation. As good as he is, offering him a max deal could strain any team’s cap space—including Miami’s. Just a couple of seasons ago, this wasn’t a scenario the Heat likely imagined.
As Herro becomes eligible for an extension in October, he’s expected to ask for the full three-year, $150 million contract. And given his All-Star season, it’s hard to fault him for that. But the Heat simply can’t afford to do that “because of the CBA” while still pursuing their bigger 2026 goals.
The Risk of Standing Still
Committing to Herro at $50 million per year—or even close to it—would likely kill any serious chances the Heat have at upgrading their roster in a meaningful way.
Some may argue the Heat can always just trade Herro later. But, “I’d strongly push back against that assessment without knowing if there’s any ceiling left for Herro to hit.” If he’s already reached his peak, few teams would jump at taking on that size of a contract, even with his talent.
By extending Herro, Miami would be tying its future to a core of Herro and Bam Adebayo. And this past season made it pretty clear how far that duo can take them.
It’s an undeniably tough spot for the Heat. They pride themselves on development success. But there’s always a moment when it becomes necessary to move on—and “the Heat may have arrived at that moment with Herro.”
Even if a superstar doesn’t ultimately land in Miami in 2026, trading Herro now could give the team the flexibility and draft assets to take that shot. Extending him, on the other hand, would shut that door almost completely.
This decision won’t be easy—but that’s what this front office is paid for. “The writing is on the wall. Everyone can see it coming. It’s not personal, but it’s time for the Heat to trade Herro.”
