Tyler Herro rumored in potential blockbuster trade centered around Wizards' Bradley Beal

The Miami Heat didn’t need Tyler Herro‘s impressive scoring abilities to make a run to the 2023 NBA Finals, but they sure could have used him against the eventual champion Denver Nuggets. Heading into the offseason, Miami could have a tough decision to make when it comes to keeping or trading the former Kentucky Wildcat for more hopeful Finals runs moving forward.

On Saturday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that two teams were in the running to potentially trade for Washington Wizards All-Star guard Bradley Beal, who has a no-trade clause (the only such one in the entire league) as part of his five-year, $251 million contract extension he signed last summer. Those two franchises are the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat. Why is this relevant? Because the Wizards are demanding Herro as one of the centerpieces revolving around any potential move that ships Beal out of D.C.

But so far, Miami is reportedly reluctant to include Herro in any possible deal that would bring Beal to South Beach. Both Charania and Miami Herald reporter Anthony Chiang have indicated that the Heat would prefer to keep Herro, which would allow Miami to form a “Big 4” of sorts that includes another former ‘Cat in Bam Adebayo alongside Beal and multi-time All-Star Jimmy Butler.

“While the Wizards would prefer guard Tyler Herro to be in any potential trade with Miami, the Heat, for now, are trying to keep Herro out of the deal, offering (Duncan) Robinson instead,” The Athletic wrote on Saturday. “Beal would give Miami a needed additional scorer to go with Jimmy Butler, Herro and center Bam Adebayo. The Heat are believed to be among Beal’s most preferred teams for a trade.”

As expected, the Heat is trying to get the Bradley Beal trade done without including Tyler Herro, according to league sources.

Beal is entering the second season of a five-year, $251 million contract. He has a no-trade clause.

— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) June 17, 2023

Herro suffered an untimely injury during Miami’s first-round playoff matchup against the No. 1 seeded Milwaukee Bucks, breaking his right shooting hand not even halfway through Game 1. Initial reports following his injury indicated that the 6-foot-5 shooting guard could possibly return by the NBA Finals, although the Heat were serious underdogs to make it that far before making their shocking run to the championship round.

Despite rumors that Herro was inching closer to a return, he ultimately did not see the floor, instead watching from the sidelines as Miami lost to Denver 4-1 in the Finals, which won its first-ever NBA title in the process.

After winning the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2021-22, Herro became a full-time starter in 2022-23 for Miami. He put up per-game averages of 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 34.9 minutes across 67 contests. Herro shot 43.9 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three-point range, and a league-leading 93.4 percent from the free-throw line.

Could Beal team up with Devin Booker?

On the flip side of all this, the Phoenix Suns being mentioned as the other team in contention to trade for Beal is also noteworthy for Kentucky fans. Phoenix has two superstars on the current roster in Kevin Durant and former Wildcat Devin Booker, who would be off-limits in any potential trade for Beal.

According to The Athletic’s reporting, the Suns would prefer to send starting center Deandre Ayton and additional cap filler to the Wizards in exchange for Beal, which would create an elite-scoring trio in the desert of Durant, Booker, and Beal — a group of elite-level shot-makers unlike anything the NBA has ever seen on one team.

With the 2023 NBA Draft now under a week away (Thursday, June 22), there expect to be plenty of transactions across the league in the days leading up. Former Kentucky players will likely feel the effects.