3:04 pm: According to a press release from the Heat, Herro underwent successful surgery on Friday to alleviate posterior impingement syndrome in his left ankle. He’s expected to miss about eight weeks, per the team, which would put him on track to return around mid-November.
9:35 am: Heat guard Tyler Herro is having surgery on his left foot that will force him to miss the start of the upcoming season, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
In a full story, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald states that the procedure, which involves the ankle and foot area, was necessary to fix a “lingering injury” that bothered Herro throughout the summer. While a timetable hasn’t been set for Herro’s return, multiple sources tell Chiang that he’s not expected to be sidelined for the entire season.
Herro began feeling discomfort in his left ankle during an offseason workout, a source tells Chiang. He was given platelet-rich plasma and cortisone injections over the past few weeks in hopes that surgery wouldn’t be necessary, but the pain subsisted and doctors decided surgery was the best option to prevent it from becoming a long-term issue.
Herro, 25, is coming off his best NBA season and his first All-Star appearance. He averaged a career-high 23.9 PPG in 77 games while adding 5.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists per night and posting a .472/.375/.878 shooting line.
Chiang notes that Miami’s offense was far more productive with Herro on the court, producing 8.6 fewer points per possession while he rested. The team struggled to score in general, finishing 21st in overall offensive rating.
Norman Powell, who was acquired from the Clippers in a three-team deal this summer, will likely take Herro’s spot in the starting lineup and will be counted on to replace some of his scoring punch. Powell is also coming off a career-best season, scoring 21.8 PPG with L.A. while shooting 48.4% from the field and 41.8% from three-point range.
Chiang points out that Herro’s absence will come at a bad time for Miami, which faces a difficult early-season schedule. The Heat will play six of their first eight games on the road, including a West Coast trip, and 11 of their first 15 games are against teams that were in the playoffs last season.
Herro will become eligible for an extension with the team next month, Chiang adds. Beginning October 1, he could add up to three years and $149.7MM to the two seasons (at $31MM and $33MM) remaining on his current deal.
If an extension agreement isn’t reached by October 20, Herro will be eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $206.9MM next summer. That could increase to a potential five-year, $380MM super-max deal if he makes an All-NBA team during the upcoming season, but he’ll have to appear in at least 65 games to qualify and the surgery may make that difficult.
A league source tells Chiang that Herro and his agent are expected to meet with team officials in early October to begin extension talks. He adds that team president Pat Riley indicated in May during his season-ending meeting with reporters that a Herro extension might not happen until 2026.
“Pay me now or pay me later, whatever it is,” Riley said. “We’ve already talked about it. I talked about it with Tyler, and so we’ll see what happens as we plan. The numbers are getting pretty big for a lot of guys. Max salaries in this league, who do they go to? I mean, who do they go to and who is really? If you’re going to make $70 million a year, who are those five or 10 guys that deserve that? But Tyler definitely is deserving of the thought of an extension. But are we going to do it? We haven’t committed to it, but we’re going to discuss it and I’ve already talked to him about it. He’s cool.”
Aw dude, this is all so sudden. I didn’t expect this. Get well soon, Tyler Herro!
Man the heat totally stink
I don’t see why he waited. Just get well player.
Sorry no OneWay Player is worth a max contract. This will get messy. Heat have figure out the Wiggins thing. I like the potential of that front line. I’m all good with going big. Ware, Bam, Wiggins is a big front line.
Point of waiting is avoiding surgery. Surgery = bad. I thought you were super knowledgeable.
Nobody said Herro was seeking a max. Reading is fundamental.
Injections are almost always a short term fix. If it’s at the end of the season, fine. But mid summer? Get it fixed Don’t wait.
Keep trying Fake 2K one day you might actually say something. Besides sounding like a petulant child. How did you sneak into the computer again … now go measure it a straight ruler this time…
Feeling discomfort could have started at end of year……. only you take a player at his word.
Try reading this. tell me what I missed !!!!!!
If an extension agreement isn’t reached by October 20, Herro will be eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $206.9MM next summer. That could increase to a potential five-year, $380MM super-max deal if he makes an All-NBA team during the upcoming season, but he’ll have to appear in at least 65 games to qualify and the surgery may make that difficult.
Once again Fake 2K from the 7th planet has proven how his thinking works … the brain has two sides right and left. On his left side, there is nothing right. And on his right side there’s nothing left …..
HoopsRumors notating what his max would be is NOT the same as Herro asking for it… which you implied when you said “Things will get messy”.
You clearly missed the forest for the trees:
“Pay me now or pay me later, whatever it is,” Riley said. “We’ve already talked about it. I talked about it with Tyler, and so we’ll see what happens as we plan. The numbers are getting pretty big for a lot of guys. Max salaries in this league, who do they go to? I mean, who do they go to and who is really? If you’re going to make $70 million a year, who are those five or 10 guys that deserve that? But Tyler definitely is deserving of the thought of an extension. But are we going to do it? We haven’t committed to it, but we’re going to discuss it and I’ve already talked to him about it. He’s cool.”
Riley is very clearly stating Herro won’t get the max, and his camp surely knows that. As a one-time fringe All-Star, he is probably looking at Brandon Ingram type money (40M per). MAYBE the 5/215 Zach LaVine signed (43M per).
Wish there was a way to trade him for Kuminga. I know the cap math does not work, though.
Daaaaam
Well….this is an opportunity for Davion.
He’s only 6’0, but I think he can be better overall than Herro.
Sucks to lose him for the beginning of the season.
I know surgery is the last resort for any player or any sport, but the timing is ridiculous. Definitely could have been done so much sooner