Miami Heat: Tyler Herro Shares a Candid Opinion on Jimmy Butler

Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo are stepping up as the primary leaders for the Miami Heat as they aim for a playoff push late in the season. However, the duo is still adjusting after Jimmy Butler’s trade to the Golden State Warriors, which brought Andrew Wiggins to Miami in return. Along with taking on more responsibility, Adebayo and Herro are also adapting to new teammates like Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, and Kyle Anderson, all while the team is on an 8-game losing streak. Adebayo expressed his thoughts on this transition, noting that it’s the first time he and Herro are leading the team without Butler, who had been the franchise’s face since 2019. According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Adebayo commented, “It’s growing pains for us. This is the first time it’s really just been me and Tyler. Obviously, the addition of [Andrew Wiggins], but we’re still working to get him fully comfortable. Right now, we’re keeping it simple for him and just letting him find his way. For Tyler and me, it’s more about realizing how difficult it is to win in this league. We can’t take that for granted.”

The Heat have struggled significantly since Butler’s departure, especially with late-game collapses, including their current 8-game losing streak. Herro gave a frank assessment of Butler’s impact, stating: “I think Jimmy was really good at making the right play at the right time, whether it was for him or a teammate. That’s part of mine and Bam’s growth process.” Adebayo had long been seen as the potential future of the Heat, while Herro has finally broken through this season, earning an All-Star selection. The Heat currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 29-39 record and were recently passed by the rebuilding Chicago Bulls, who have parted ways with key players like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Alex Caruso. This highlights just how much the Heat have struggled, raising serious questions about the new core of Herro, Adebayo, and Wiggins.