HoopsHype uses analytics and advanced stats to breaks down the All-Star-level start for Miami Heat shooting guard Tyler Herro in 2024-25.
The summer of 2023 was the closest we’ve come to an actual Tyler Herro trade happening, as the Miami Heat went through intense negotiations with the Portland Trail Blazers for star lead guard Damian Lillard.
For Miami, trying to pull off such a deal had more to do with wanting Lillard, coming off a spectacular 3rd Team All-NBA, 32.2-point-per-game campaign, rather than just wanting to offload Herro. After all, the Heat have always held the former Kentucky standout in high regard, higher even than portions of the fanbase that had grown frustrated with his lack of defense, streaky scoring and availability – or lack thereof.
Eventually, as history has it, the trade fell through as Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks and Herro remained with Miami. Fans in South Florida felt a sense of disappointment with how the whole Lillard saga with Portland went, and if fans were frustrated, Heat brass probably felt even more indignation about how the ordeal eventually culminated.
But thus far in 2024-25, the Heat may feel some sense of relief that the trade didn’t happen, as Herro is making a charge at the first All-Star bid of his career, with the 24-year-old looking to have hit a higher level in his game.
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here’s Prince J. Grimes.
What’s up, hoops fans. Welcome back to Layup Lines. The NBA Cup got started Tuesday night with a little group play action, and several of the games delivered in the way of drama.
You already know about the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors, who put on show in Klay Thompson’s first game back in the Bay. But there was also the Atlanta Hawks going on the road to stun the Boston Celtics with a one-point win, and the Detroit Pistons’ overtime win over the Miami Heat.
That last game was particularly interesting because it involved one of the greatest coaches of this generation making an incredibly uncharacteristic mistake at the worst possible time. With the game tied at the end of the extra period, Erik Spoelstra called a timeout — even though the Heat didn’t have any.
The blunder led to a technical foul that allowed the Pistons to shoot the game-winning free throws with a second left (and made for a great Jalen Rose meme).
A complete, uncharacteristic meltdown from Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra.
First: he gets burned by Detroit’s ATO.
Second: he calls a timeout in frustration, but he doesnt have any left. So he’s assessed a technical foul. Pistons take the lead at the line.
Now, look, I’m not here to necessarily defend Spoelstra. Yes, he’s human. Yes, he’s allowed to make mistakes. And there’s no guarantee the Heat would’ve won in the second OT. But he blew it. There’s no way around it. He even owned up to it after the game.
But isn’t blaming Spoelstra kind of just a convenient cover for how mid the Heat actually are and have been for what, more than two years now? They’re 4-6 on the season after losing a dog fight with the Detroit freaking Pistons. The same Pistons team that tied the record for the longest losing streak ever last season. Shouldn’t that be a bigger concern here?
I don’t know. It just seems like maybe that’s where the focus with this team should be. It’s not that Spo lost them a game. It’s that Heat management keeps forcing him to prove how great he is on a nightly basis by rolling out a team that isn’t actually very good. They’re worse than bad, because there isn’t some high lottery pick awaiting them for winning 40 games every year.
We forget because Miami made an improbable run to the finals two summers ago, but they’ve been an 8-seed each of the last two years. As mid as mid gets. And they’re only getting middier. Their star player, Jimmy Butler, is now 35 years old and hasn’t played at least 65 games — the league minimum for awards — since 2018-19. And by the way, he was out again Tuesday.
Sure, the Heat still have Olympian Bam Adebayo, but after him, it’s Tyler Herro, the potential of Jaime Jaquez Jr. and a bunch of dudes. And they’re supposed to compete with the likes of the Celtics, Cavaliers and Knicks? Please. That they aren’t as bad as the Pistons most nights is a credit to Spoelstra.
So you can go ahead and pin this one loss on the coach, but you’re probably missing the bigger picture. The Heat win more games because of Spoelstra than games they lose because of him. I can’t believe I’m saying this about a coach, but Pat Riley and the front office should do more to get the man some help.
Gregg Popovich health update
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
I used this newsletter last week to send well wishes to Gregg Popovich after learning the Spurs coach would be out indefinitely with an health issue. Today we learned exactly what that health issue was.
The Spurs announced Wednesday Popovich suffered a mild stroke at the team’s arena Nov. 2. They said he’s expected to make a full recovery after already starting a rehab program. A timeline for his return hasn’t been determined.
This news is both scary and relieving to hear all at once. Whether or not he coaches again — which it sounds like he will — it’s awesome to know he’s expected to recover. At the same time, it’s difficult anytime you hear about a stroke.
The important thing here is Pop seems to be OK. So, let’s just continue to keep him in our thoughts until he’s back with the team.
Did Jalen Rose have a Chris Webber timeout flashback?
Jalen Rose was a part of the Fab Five at Michigan that famously watched Chris Webber call a timeout the Wolverines didn’t have against UNC in 1993.
Flashforward to 2024. Rose was in attendance at the Miami Heat loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night, and he watched as Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra called a timeout late in the game.
But he didn’t have a timeout, which meant a technical foul and the win for the Pistons.
Cameras caught Rose’s reaction, and there were A LOT of Chris Webber jokes about what was flashing through his head at that moment:
Jalen Rose's reaction to Spo calling a timeout he did not have is an all-timer pic.twitter.com/nMLgLI6J3V
When Goran Dragic came in as a second-round pick, nobody thought he would last well over a decade in the NBA. Not even himself. Now officially retired, Dragic will be on hand for the NBA’s 33rd game in Mexico since 1992, featuring his favorite …
When Goran Dragic came in as a second-round pick, nobody thought he would last well over a decade in the NBA. Not even himself. Now officially retired, Dragic will be on hand for the NBA’s 33rd game in Mexico since 1992, featuring his favorite franchise, the Miami Heat, going up against the Washington Wizards on November 2.
The former All-Star jumped at the chance to travel to Mexico City to participate in numerous NBA-hosted events, including a Jr. NBA coaches event, prior to Saturday’s matchup. Dragic spoke with HoopsHype about his 15-year career, what separates the Heat from other teams, Luka Doncic, and more.
When the Miami Heat unveiled their statue outside Kaseya Center to honor Dwyane Wade, sculptor artist Omri Amrany seemed to know that there would be a mixed reaction.
But hey, at least he’s happy with how the final product turned out.
Although receiving a statue outside of the arena where an athlete created their legacy is one of the highest honors in sports, it isn’t always easy to get it right. Sadly, the statue built for Wade did not get a warm reception when it was unveiled.
His own reaction was fairly awkward and folks on the internet immediately turned it into the punchline of a joke, which is never a good sign.
Sunday had to be quite the day for Dwyane Wade. He was on hand for the Miami Heat to honor him with a statue outside the Kaseya Center, which must have been exciting.
Then, he had to see the statue.
When the Heat unveiled the statue, it was immediately obvious that the final result looked absolutely nothing like the Heat legend. The statue was so bad that it brought back memories of Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous statue a few years back. Wade knew it as he had to awkwardly pretend to be a fan of the statue in real time.
By no measure, is it easy to sculpt a lifelike statue. And we’ve seen plenty of times over the years just how awful those efforts can turn out to be.
Well, the Miami Heat have put themselves in Cristiano Ronaldo territory with their statue dedicated to Dwyane Wade.
The Heat had Wade on hand Sunday for an entire ceremony to unveil the statue, which was supposed to immortalize Wade’s “this is my house” celebration. Instead, it turned into the most awkward live reaction we could possibly imagine.
The statue could not look any less like Wade, and the Heat legend knew it.
Wade had to stand up there on stage, trying to act excited about the statue’s final product. He said: “That’s crazy. I can’t believe that — who is that guy?”
The biggest question for Miami this season will be whether they have enough playmaking to navigate the regular season, with Terry Rozier as their primary ball-handling guard – despite being more of a combo guard by nature. The playmaking burden may …
The biggest question for Miami this season will be whether they have enough playmaking to navigate the regular season, with Terry Rozier as their primary ball-handling guard – despite being more of a combo guard by nature. The playmaking burden may then rest heavily on the shoulders of other players. Bam Adebayo appears ready to take on an expanded offensive role after showing more versatility, including three-point shooting, during his time with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He could very well be the team’s leading scorer, with Tyler Herro playing a crucial role. Herro, who averaged a career-high 20.8 points per game last season, has shown flashes of All-Star potential, but his inconsistency and injury struggles have held him back. Both Adebayo and Herro will need to step up, especially if Jimmy Butler paces himself for another deep playoff run.
Ultimately, the Heat’s focus is less on regular-season standings and more on being healthy and ready for the playoffs, where they have repeatedly shown they are a legitimate threat.
It was supposed to feel like Halloween for Jimmy Butler.
For some basketball fans, Jimmy Butler was was supposed to make today feel like a holiday. Alas, however, that was not the case.
The six-time NBA All-Star showed up to the Miami Heat media day in 2022 and 2023 dressed in costume. Two years ago, Butler showed up wearing fake dreadlocks. Last season, he appeared wearing a full “goth” outfit dressed like he was in an emo band.
These were the photos that press outlets had to use for him for the entire season. Many were excited to see what Butler would do in 2024 at the annual media day, but he decided to change it up once again this year.
happy “what will jimmy butler do with his appearance” day to all those who celebrate
Butler decided to play it more conservatively, though.
Instead of putting on a show, he arrived exactly as he will look during the season. Even though he is a six-time All-Star, he has missed earning such an honor multiple seasons in a row. He also did not sign a contract extension in the offseason.
