The Miami Heat remain mired in mediocrity, and a gap year will not solve their biggest problem. The team can still be competitive and possibly finish as a top-six seed in the East, but championship contention is unrealistic this season. The only route back to title contention is acquiring a true superstar — a clear No. 1 option alongside Bam Adebayo. Tyler Herro has not proven to be that type of player. Salary cap and CBA constraints make it difficult to add a superstar while also meeting Herro’s expected $40+ million salary. Both the Heat and Herro would benefit from parting ways now.
Even though it's probably the right decision, embracing a "gap" year is not going to do much to accomplish the Miami Heat's biggest issue as they continue to find themselves in the nightmare that is mediocrity. And unless they're willing to accept the reality that they must be willing to part ways with Tyler Herro, they may never be able to break out of this competitive lull.
Even if they do, there's no way the Heat will be competing for an NBA Championship this season. That's out of the question. Even in a perfect world, it's inconceivable that Miami will find itself in a position to do that. The only way back to championship contention is by landing another superstar player, a No. 1 option that Bam Adebayo, in an ideal world, can play off of. Over the last couple of years, it's become abundantly clear that Herro is not that player.
Because of the way the CBA is constructed, it would be increasingly difficult (and perhaps downright impossible) for the Heat to add a superstar-level player while also signing Herro to an extension of his liking ($40-plus million per year). At the same rate, Herro deserves to get paid what he believes he's worth. So while it may be a dream of the Heat's to sign Herro at a discount, perhaps around the $35 million per year range, that's very unlikely to happen.
Collection
[
|
...
]