Tyler Herro’s Milwaukee future looks a lot steadier than it did when he first landed with the Bucks.
At the time of the trade, there was real uncertainty about whether he would stick around or get flipped elsewhere. That noise has quieted down, and according to a Bucks executive who spoke with Spotrac’s Keith Smith, Milwaukee is open to keeping the shooting guard in the fold.
“We’d love to get something done, provided it makes sense for both Tyler and us.”
That’s about as direct as it gets, and it should come as a relief for Herro if he had any lingering doubts about where this is headed.
For now, Herro is on track to play this season on an expiring deal unless the Bucks work out an extension. He has already made it clear how much he likes being back in Wisconsin, where he grew up. In comments to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm, Herro said he hopes he stays, whether it’s for two months, two years, or however long.
The ball is in Milwaukee’s court now.
If the Bucks see Herro as part of their long-term reset after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, there’s a straightforward case for locking him up early. And if they believe he’s about to have a huge year as the team’s top option, they could try to get ahead of a bigger payday by extending him before he reaches free agency next summer.
But this all comes down to money. How much Herro will command, and how much the Bucks are willing to pay, is the real hinge point here. That’s the piece the executive pointed to as the biggest factor in whether something gets done this summer or later.
Milwaukee also has a clear need for someone to steer the ship after Giannis’ departure, and there’s an argument that Herro is already the team’s best player. The former All-Star is stepping into the biggest role of his NBA career, with a chance to show he’s more than the complementary piece he was for much of his time with the Miami Heat.
The Bucks will need him to deliver on both ends of the floor. They’ll also need him to be a presence in the locker room and around the team. At 26, he isn’t the oldest player on the roster, but he’s not the youngest either, which puts him in a spot where he can become a central figure for Milwaukee moving forward.
If the Bucks really believe in him, an extension would not be a surprise.
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