The Heat have emerged as the leading trade contender for Giannis Antetokounmpo and are allegedly willing to offer almost anything, including guard Tyler Herro. However, the Bucks may not be keen to keep Herro in a potential trade since they are also very interested in guard prospect Labaron Philon Jr in the draft. With Philon playing the same position and being a much more exciting prospect, the Bucks would likely redirect Herro to another team if they acquired him in a Giannis trade.
The Bucks don't have a need for Tyler Herro
It's clear that Milwaukee has plenty of interest in Philon with their 10th overall pick. Not only would Philon be one of the top players available in the Bucks' range, he would also fill a need for another young guard with star potential. The Bucks may have one future star in their backcourt already with Ryan Rollins, but giving him a potential co-star after a Giannis trade will be ideal.
At the same time, the Bucks are also pushing the Heat to offer a bigger trade package and that would likely involve Herro. However, Herro no longer fits the bill of a young guard brimming with potential. He's now 26 years old and entering his 8th season soon. He's clearly got a ceiling below an All-Star level, making him a bad fit within an impending Bucks rebuild.
Adding Herro to the Bucks current roster after trading Giannis wouldn't have any real benefits. It may help them win a few more games in the short term, but keeping Herro around would only serve to limit opportunities from younger guards. Herro also isn't quite enough of a veteran presence to help develop young players either.
Labaron Philon Jr is a much more exciting guard
If the choice has to be made between Philon and Herro, it's an obvious one. Philon is just 20 years old going into the draft and showed incredible progression during his two seasons in college. He's also a more capable two-way player than Herro, who has been a weak spot of the Heat defense for years.
Philon may not currently be as good as Herro, but it seems like only a matter of time until he catches up. And Philon's rise will fit with Ryan Rollins' timeline much better; Rollins is currently 23 years old and still progressing rapidly too. Having both of them in the same dynamic backcourt as a versatile duo is a tantalizing prospect.
Even if the Bucks don't end up drafting Philon, they should still look to pass off Herro rather than adding him from a Giannis trade. Regardless of their exact draft selection, the Bucks simply aren't a team where Herro makes sense.
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