All along, it's seemed like the Heat would be the team to win the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, but the Milwaukee Bucks could get a better offer elsewhere, as in from the Celtics. If that happens, or another team swoops in, Miami will be stuck with a Tyler Herro problem.
The Wisconsin native is accustomed to being in trade rumors. It's felt like an offseason tradition at this point, but this summer is different. He's entering the final season of his current contract with the Heat, and Miami knows it needs to trade him. The perfect way to do that would be for Antetokounmpo, but that may not happen.
What kind of market will there be for Herro if the Bucks send Giannis elsewhere? Considering that Brian Windhorst said on ESPN on Monday that Miami is trying to find other teams to loop in for an Antetokounmpo trade, that could mean that Milwaukee doesn't want to take the 26-year-old guard, who is due for an extension.
Heat could be stuck if they don't flip Tyler Herro in Giannis trade
Miami is already at somewhat of a disadvantage with Herro, as the time to trade him was after last season, when he averaged a career-high 23.9 points in 77 games and earned his first All-Star nod. The Heat could come back from that by sending him to the Bucks (or another team) in a Giannis deal, but as we're seeing, things may not shake out that way.
Milwaukee doesn't need to pay Herro, and should prioritize younger players and draft picks instead. That's a stance they should stick to, though the Heat hope otherwise.
Regardless of what does or doesn't go down between the Bucks and Heat this offseason, Miami needs to find a trade for the guard. He's technically still under contract, but it's not hard to understand why he might not be all that thrilled about staying where he is, if that's the case.
The Heat may have already burned that bridge, and for good this time. After years of Herro's name being thrown in rumors for Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, and now Antetokounmpo, Miami could be at the point of no return, putting even more pressure on them to land Giannis.
They can't afford to come out on the losing end of this one, though that could be what they're in for, especially if what Bill Simmons said is true, and the Celtics made a formal offer for Antetokounmpo. By the time the dust settles, the Heat could be stuck with Herro, or stuck with getting a less-than-ideal package for him.
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