Tyler Herro’s Absence Looms Large as Heat Seek Stability Amid Trade Rumors and Playoff Push
MIAMI - The Miami Heat are walking a familiar tightrope: fighting for playoff positioning while trying to stay healthy - and stay focused - as the trade deadline looms. One player who’s been at the center of both conversations? Tyler Herro.
Herro is set to miss his ninth straight game Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls due to a rib injury officially listed as a “Right Costochondral; Injury to the Ribs.” It’s been a frustrating stretch for the 24-year-old guard, who’s now missed 38 games this season - and all signs suggest that number will hit 40 after Sunday’s back-to-back.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra, who’s seen Herro grow from a promising rookie into a cornerstone of Miami’s offense, spoke candidly about his guard’s resilience.
“There’s things that sometimes happen, you know, for players in this league that you can’t control,” Spoelstra said. “The one thing I do know about Tyler after spending so many years with him is he has resolve.
He has grit. He fights through and focuses on the things that he can control.
Right now, it’s just getting healthy, and they’ll put in the work to get ready. I’ve always admired that quality about him.”
That grit Spoelstra mentioned has been tested all season. Herro’s absence has left a noticeable void in Miami’s offense.
In the 11 games he has played, Herro has looked every bit the offensive weapon the Heat hoped he’d be - averaging 21.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He’s shooting an efficient 49.7% from the field and 35.8% from deep, showcasing his ability to score at all three levels.
But availability is the best ability - especially for a Heat team currently sitting at 26-23, locked in the eighth seed in a crowded Eastern Conference. Miami has struggled to find rhythm without Herro, and the inconsistency in the lineup has made it tough to climb the standings.
And then there’s the trade noise.
Herro’s name has once again surfaced in high-profile trade rumors, this time as the centerpiece in a potential package for Giannis Antetokounmpo. While the possibility of landing a two-time MVP will always generate buzz, Spoelstra and the Heat aren’t giving it much oxygen.
“We don’t really give it any time,” Spoelstra said before Wednesday’s loss to Orlando. “The veteran players, they understand that so much of it is just conjecture.
It’s just a bunch of BS, but it is part of our business. That’s what we all sign up for.
No update on Herro, but would ask Erik Spoelstra about the disappointment from him missing close to 40 games with a myriad of injuries.
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 31, 2026
“The one thing I know about Tyler…is he has resolve…right now, it’s just getting healthy and they’ll put in the work…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/8egipXHHzI
You have to be professional all the way through. And the most important thing is we have an opportunity right now.
Of all these games that are in front of us, it’s an opportunity to play well and move up.”
That’s the message Spoelstra is preaching - stay present, stay professional, and control what you can. For Herro, that means rehabbing and returning to form. For the rest of the roster, it means taking advantage of a pivotal stretch of games that could determine whether Miami is fighting to avoid the Play-In or making a legitimate push for home-court advantage.
As for the trade deadline next Thursday? That’s a conversation for the front office. On the court, the Heat are focused on the now - and hoping Herro can be part of that again sooner rather than later.
Erik Spoelstra asked about the trade deadline buzz surrounding the Heat (not mentioned, but obviously Giannis).
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 28, 2026
“We don’t really give it any time...it’s part of our business, that’s what we all sign up for…most important thing is we have an opportunity right now…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/e4QbOSt85u