Heat guard Tyler Herro bristled last season when head coach Erik Spoelstra had him play off the ball more often while attempting more catch-and-shoot three-pointers, but he has bought in on the adjustments to his role ahead of the 2024/25 season, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
“I mean, I’m actually a really good catch-and-shoot player,” Herro told Winderman. “I didn’t know that last season, when I was being in my feelings about being a catch-and-shoot player. I’m a very good catch-and-shoot player, as well as I am off the dribble. So I think I can do both.”
Herro will be part of a starting five that includes other ball-dominant players, including Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, so while he’ll have opportunities to handle the ball, he’s also expecting to play off of it more often than he has in the past. He indicated he’s happy to take on whatever role the team asks of him.
“This is already year six for me, so I definitely have matured in my mind,” he said earlier in camp. “Last year, I was coming in like, ‘I’m trying to score 25 per game.’ This year, honestly, I’m just here to play, have fun, be myself. Whatever I end up averaging, I end up averaging.
“… I’m not here to push any agendas of All-Star or anything like that,” he added. “I’m just honestly here to have fun, win a championship with the guys we have, and just go from there.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Even if the Heat were to offer Butler a maximum-salary contract extension at this point, the expectation is that he’d pass on it, sources tell Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald, since the star swingman is focused on playing out his current deal and reevaluating his contract situation next summer. However, there’s still no indication he wants to be anywhere except Miami. Agent Bernie Lee, who spoke to Chiang about his client’s outlook ahead of the coming season, said that the organization supported Butler admirably during a difficult time when his father passed away last season.
- In two more stories for The Miami Herald, Chiang looks at what we learned during the Heat’s five-game preseason slate and examines the offensive changes that Spoelstra is implementing this fall. As Chiang notes, Miami has made it a priority to move away from mid-range attempts and to focus more on layups and three-pointers in an effort to make its offense more efficient.
- Riley said last week that Bam Adebayo, Butler, Herro, and Rozier “have to be better” for the Heat to take a step forward in 2024/25. What would that look like in practice? Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald takes a closer look at specific potential areas of improvement for each player.
- Josh Richardson has been medically cleared in his recovery from March shoulder surgery, but is now battling left heel inflammation and isn’t expected to be ready for the regular season opener, tweets Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.