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The Miami Heat’s 2023-24 campaign came to an end when they were eliminated in five games by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Heading into the offseason, Miami will have to consider some trades if they intend on improving their roster, including when it comes to deals involving Tyler Herro.
Herro has emerged as a quality starter for the Heat, and while he’s a skilled offensive player, he isn’t a good defender. He has also struggled to remain on the court over the past couple of seasons, as he missed pretty much all of Miami’s run to the Finals in 2023 and only appeared in 42 games over the course of the previous regular season campaign.
Heat president Pat Riley called out the 24-year-old after their season ended, saying, “He’s been fragile a little bit. What did he play, 40 games? He might have to go to another level nutritionally. He’s got to make some adjustments, definitely.”
Riley is among the most respected and accomplished basketball minds in NBA history. From being a player to a legendary head coach to a successful front-office executive, Riley has done it all. And while his criticism could be seen as harsh, it shows Riley’s old-school style that embodies the renowned Heat culture.
Regardless of these concerns, Herro is a talented shooting guard, and he could be used as the centerpiece of a trade package that yields Miami a bonafide superstar. With that in mind, let’s look into the best trades involving Herro that the Heat must consider making in order to improve their roster.
Hawks acquire: Tyler Herro, 2029 lottery-protected first-round pick
Heat acquire: Dejounte Murray
While Dejounte Murray isn’t necessarily a huge upgrade over Herro, he is a much better fit for the Heat. Murray is stronger on the defensive end of the floor than Herro is, and he is far more consistent when it comes to his availability on a nightly basis.
Murray appeared in 78 games this past season for the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 22.5 points, 6.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. He shot 45.9 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from three. The 27-year-old guard would certainly be worth the price of Herro and a future lottery-protected first-round pick.
Murray’s two-way play would fit perfectly in with the Heat’s culture, and if this is something the Hawks would be willing to consider, Miami should quickly pull the trigger on this deal.
Cavs acquire: Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, 2029 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick
Heat acquire: Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell is another guy that the Heat could pursue in a trade this offseason. Mitchell could be on his way off the Cleveland Cavaliers after they too were eliminated from the playoffs by the Boston Celtics, with their second-round series having concluded in five games on Wednesday night.
Mitchell is entering the final year of his current deal, and that may lead him to request a trade this offseason. This deal would give Miami an elite scorer alongside their star duo of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Mitchell averaged 26.6 points, 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game this season. He shot 46.2 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three.
Mitchell’s offensive skill set would give Miami the scoring punch they have been lacking over the past few seasons, and his addition would instantly make the Heat a top title contender next year.
Suns acquire: Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, Duncan Robinson, 2029 first-round pick, 2031 first-round pick
Heat acquire: Kevin Durant
Another trade that the Heat could make in an effort to enter the championship conversation would be acquiring Kevin Durant from the Phoenix. Durant is unlikely to be moved by the Suns considering how they only recently picked him up, but if he ends up requesting a trade, which could happen, as unreasonable as it sounds, the Heat should pounce on him
Durant is 35 years old, but he is still one of the best players in the game, and his scoring capabilities have yet to truly decline. Durant averaged 27.1 points along with 6.6 rebounds, five assists, and 1.2 blocks per game this season. He shot 52.3 percent from the floor and 41.3 percent from downtown.
Miami could use a major scorer like Durant to rival the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. The Heat have a lot of work to do this offseason, and if they ultimately decide to move on from Herro, it should be in a deal to acquire a star like Murray, Mitchell, or Durant.
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