The NBA Superstar Who Will Miss the Start of the Season

The start of the season in Miami comes with an unexpected blow: Tyler Herro will have to undergo surgery on his left foot and will not be available for the beginning of the season. The news, first reported by ESPN and further detailed by The Miami Herald, confirms that the intervention was necessary to address a persistent injury that the shooting guard had been dealing with throughout the summer. Although there is no defined timeline for his return yet, indications suggest that he may be able to make a comeback before the end of the season.

The pain started during a summer workout when Herro felt discomfort in his ankle. Doctors attempted to alleviate the issue with platelet-rich plasma and cortisone injections, but the discomfort persisted. Surgery was ultimately chosen as the sole solution to prevent it from becoming a chronic problem.

The absence comes at the peak of his individual career. At 25 years old, Herro is coming off his first All-Star appearance and his best stats: averaging 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, along with notable shooting percentages (47.2% field goals, 37.5% three-pointers, and 87.8% free throws). His offensive impact was evident, with the Heat scoring 8.6 fewer points per possession when he was off the court.

Coach Erik Spoelstra's plan now shifts to Norman Powell. Acquired from the Clippers in a three-way trade, the veteran guard will fill the void in the starting lineup. Powell is also in excellent form, averaging 21.8 points with a 41.8% three-point shooting rate last season. However, Herro’s absence will be felt, especially in the face of a tough initial schedule: six of the first eight games will be on the road, and 11 of the first 15 opponents were playoff teams.

Tyler Herro's Situation in Miami

Furthermore, this situation intersects with a delicate contractual scenario. Herro can negotiate an extension starting from October 1st: a three-year, $149.7 million deal over his current two seasons ($31 and $33 million). If no agreement is reached by the 20th of that month, he will have to wait until summer to be eligible for a four-year, $206.9 million extension, or even a supermax five-year, $380 million deal if he makes it into an All-NBA team. However, to be eligible, he would need to play in at least 65 games, a challenging target after the surgery.

Within the franchise, the issue is already up in the air. Pat Riley made it clear in his May statement: “Pay me now or pay me later, it doesn't matter. We've already discussed it with Tyler, and we will talk about it again. The numbers are rising for many players, and we have to consider who truly deserves a max salary. Tyler certainly deserves our consideration, but we have not yet made a decision. We will discuss it, and he is calm about it."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La superestrella de la NBA que se perderá el inicio de temporada