In short, the team needed a hero. Instead, Miami picked Tyler Herro, a Kentucky shooting guard.
OFFICIAL: With the 13th pick in the 2019 #NBADraft your Miami HEAT select Tyler Herro, G, Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/yVdLYC1b33
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) June 21, 2019
Rumor said the Heat was tied to players such as USC guard Kevin Porter Jr., so the Herro pick was a shocker. It was thought Miami would shoot for the moon and go after a high-ceiling player who could help the team overcome the salary-cap issues.Heat select Tyler Herro with the No. 13 pick pic.twitter.com/RyH3ey7WZZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 21, 2019
That did not happen. Miami picked a player who reminds some fans of former Heater Mike Miller. Herro might be a solid three-point shooter (he shot 35 percent from afar in college), but not the sort of player who will catapult the franchise to contender status.
The Heat then turned around and traded three second-round picks to the Indiana Pacers for the 32nd pick, Stanford forward KZ Okpala. Then, with its own number 44, Miami chose the seven-foot-three draft enigma Bol Bol. This move made many Heat fans happy because Bol Bol was projected to be chosen much sooner. Not a second after the Heat picked Bol Bol, however, it was announced the team had traded him to the Denver Nuggets.
Heat fans were not amused. AT ALL.
In fact, some found it to be the last straw for Heat president Pat Riley, who has clearly been bad at his job since LeBron James left Miami. We just call balls and strikes here. LeBron James ain't walking through that door. Dwyane Wade is drinking wine in Greece half the time. Chris Bosh is usually riding camels on Instagram.
This is a "what have you done for me lately" game. Heat fans feel like 2014 was a long time ago, and Riley is now officially in the hot seat.
— KHRIStian Hernandez (@TheMapleRick) June 21, 2019
Seriously https://t.co/EdGdgFttv4
— Slim (not really) (@SkinnyMcGhee) June 21, 2019
Pat Riley is beyond washed.
— David Block (@davidraider88) June 21, 2019
Miami drafted Machine Gun Kelly
— Barry McCockiner (@SportsTalkBarry) June 21, 2019
Pat riley... pic.twitter.com/E52fbb2RSQ
— ThankYouWade ?????? (@__rorschxx) June 21, 2019
What is Pat Riley thinking.
— Robbie Lawler (@RML_22) June 21, 2019
It’s time for pat riley to leave @MiamiHEAT
— ? (@Ty_Espada) June 21, 2019
— Aus10 (@ChefTrillie) June 21, 2019
Hey @MiamiHEAT for how long y'all going to allow Pat Riley to continue fucking this team up, he has to go. Enough with that "Culture" bullshit, change is necessary.
— Rosecrans (@IAMVickq) June 21, 2019
So, yeah, that did not go well. Herro looks to be a quality player who can certainly help the Heat. He averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists as a freshman at Kentucky. He's a legit baller with a lot of room to grow. The issue, though, is Herro seems like a safe pick. He's the sort of pick you make late in the first round, not in the lottery.Me: Draft can’t get any worse
— Flu Hefner (@CHP_Slic) June 21, 2019
Pat Riley: Hold my beer... https://t.co/GeVRG6jgxB
This is the sort of selection you make when you need a supporting cast member, not a star. We'll see if it works out for the Heat. For now, let's hope Tyler Herro is a quality player who will be here when a star arrives.