Tyler Herro has been preparing for a move in an offseason that has been rife with trade rumors. It turns out such change could take place while the person is still a Miami Heat member.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Heat may decide to use Herro or Josh Richardson as its starting unit’s primary ball-handler.

In free agency, Gabe Vincent joined the Los Angeles Lakers after playing in the position until the end of the previous season and the playoffs. With Vincent gone, Miami is down to just 37-year-old Kyle Lowry as their actual point guard.

Herro, who was named Sixth Man of the Year in 2021–22, is accustomed to holding the ball. Herro, who has averaged 20.4 PPG for the Heat over the previous two seasons, has played both as a starter and a

reserve during his tenure in South Beach. Herro played a career-high 34.9 MPG and tallied a career-high 280 assists as a full-time two-guard starter last season.

Miami would still choose Lillard over Herro as their starting point guard going into the 2023–24 season, despite Herro’s solid output, as the Blazers are all too aware.

The Blazers want the Heat to “scrounge” for a trade deal similar to the one the Brooklyn Nets received from the Phoenix Suns in return for Kevin Durant, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

They want the Heat to create everything they can, literally digging through every crack and crevice. On the “Hoop Collective” podcast, Windhorst noted, “The Heat don’t feel a need to do that.

Since Portland has been firmly opposed adding the guard to its up-and-coming backcourt led by rookie Scoot Henderson, Miami will continue to look for a third team to take on Herro’s $120 million contract.

After Lillard requested to be traded in July, trade negotiations between the two clubs have continued far longer than one might have anticipated. The Heat probably feel like they are bidding against themselves

with each offer they make since the seven-time All-Star is so set on moving to South Beach. The Blazers, on the other hand, know they only get one chance to get a player of Lillard’s caliber in return, so they won’t

blow it by moving too quickly.

Portland is not in a hurry to make a subpar deal because Lillard has a contract that runs until at least the 2025–26 season, thus there is no end in sight to the Lillard trade story.