Starting Miami Heat Point Guard in '23-'24 Could Surprise You

This may come as a surprise, but as the Miami Heat continue to try to find a way to land Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, one Heat Insider suggests that Miami's starting point guard on Opening Night might very well be... Tyler Herro.

Yes, that's the same Tyler Herro who's had his name included in just about every Lillard trade scenario out there, and the same Tyler Herro who removed "Miami Heat guard" from his Twitter bio earlier this summer once the rumors of his impending demise in South Beach starting picking up steam.

Ira Winderman of the Miami Herald made the suggestion after it was pointed out that the Heat lost last year's starter at the point (in the second half of the season) Gabe Vincent to the Los Angeles Lakers this summer in free agency. And former starter Kyle Lowry, at age 37, isn't so much suited to a starting role anymore. That leaves, of the current backcourt mix, whether he likes it or not, Herro to play lead guard when the ball is tipped. 

"But what you can't do," emphasizes Winderman, "is hold back Tyler's offense because you play him at point guard. If Herro doesn't thrive at the point, then there has to be a Plan B."

At that point, he suggests an old Heat alumnus maybe getting another run in Miami, Goran Dragic. But the free agent guard is the same age as Lowry, and much farther removed from a starting role in the league. He's bounced around between four teams in the last two years since leaving the Heat, and has averaged no more than 15 minutes a game. 

As for Herro, he posted 20 points and 4.2 assists in his "off guard" duties last season. If a Lillard trade remains unconsummated into the start of the season, it does seem like Herro would be capable of running the point. 

But whether he'd add "Miami Heat guard" back to his Twitter profile remains to be seen.

Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports