Numerous rumours and conversations throughout the NBA summer of 2023 suggested that the Miami Heat might be open to negotiating a deal to send guard Tyler Herro elsewhere in exchange for bringing back Damian Lillard, but Heat president Pat Riley claims it is absolutely untrue.
Riley reportedly added, “I will say this, that we never offered Tyler in any trade, we’ve never shopped him to anybody,” as quoted by Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel. “It’s just a part of the business.”
On the eve of the 2023–24 season, Riley spoke to the newspaper. The Heat were returning a sizable portion of the team that helped them reach the NBA Finals last spring, despite barely making the playoffs as the No. 8 seed thanks to a split decision in the play-in tournament.
Riley’s claim that the Heat never considered Herro, who is entering Year 1 of a four-year, $130 million contract, in any offer elevates the Heat’s reputation as not exactly desperate to move this summer in order to add another star.
Riley may be picking at straws in regards to the Tyler Herro trade rumours, of course. Because Portland was so offended by Lillard’s and his agent Aaron Goodwin’s insistence that Miami was the only destination they would accept, the Heat did not immediately approach the Trail Blazers in trade conversations surrounding Lillard. Riley never spoke to Portland GM Joe Cronin, hence Riley did not present Herro to Cronin.
Of course, this does not imply that the Heat would not have dealt Herro; it merely means that the topic was not brought up.
However, Herro should be pleased about the trade rumours, Pat Riley told him emphatically. A gamer should only be concerned when no one is bringing you up in conversation.
Riley remarked that Tyler “almost should wear that as a badge of honour” because of his participation in these debates. “I detest to see that occur. It cannot be stopped. This one veered off the rails this summer. It was unstoppable. It simply was. And the more you attempt to discuss it in any manner, shape, or form, the more it will become what it is.However, I absolutely spoke with the agents. I avoided Tyler in my conversation. Also, I noticed him at training camp. He slightly dappled me, and that was it.
Riley appeared to be adamant that his point regarding Herro be understood in Winderman’s story. We did not attempt to trade Tyler Herro, he reiterated.
Riley repeated, “We have never sold him to anyone. I’ll say it again. People frequently call him, but we always respond with “Goodbye and thanks.”
Cynical people among us would point out that Pat Riley’s claim that he hasn’t tried to move Tyler Herro from the Heat is exactly what you’d say if you were actually trying to do so.
Making sure that the team he is now playing for truly loves and wants to keep him is the first step in determining a player’s trade value.
Riley and the Heat, however, appear at ease as the season gets underway with Herro prepared to fill the No. 3 position on the roster as the scoring wing in support of the Bam Adebayo-Jimmy Butler inside-out combination. Riley is also claiming—at least in public—that he has no issue with the Heat’s failure to sign a star player in either of the previous two summers.
After all, this is the Eastern Conference’s reigning champion.
He replied, “I like our team. “Again, I’m not concerned about the perspective or the narrative. We have a terrific opportunity, in my opinion.