Tyler Herro isn’t treating his foot surgery as a setback, but fuel. The Miami Heat guard, fresh off a career-best season where he exploded onto the scene as the Heat’s best perimeter scorer, has turned his rehab into a mission statement. Instead of quietly putting time into his recovery, he’s sending a bold message to the rest of the league.

According to reports, Herro started to report discomfort in his left ankle during his offseason workouts, following which he was administered non-surgical treatment (including cortisone injections and platelet-rich plasma), hoping it would be enough to get him into shape. Unfortunately, the decision was made to go ahead with surgery to address posterior ankle impingement, which has limited his mobility. This procedure has set his timeline for a return around eight weeks, ruling the first-time All-Star out for the opening of the 2025-26 season, leaving unanswered questions about the backcourt that head coach Erik Spoelstra needs to solve.

However, Herro has made sure that the news isn’t coming across as just another setback. He posted on his Instagram story: “imma tear the league back down once I get off this weak a– bed.” This wasn’t an update, but a warning, and it quickly spread through social media.

Herro’s impact previous season cannot be overstated. During a season marked by the Jimmy Butler trade saga, the 25-year old guard averaged 23.9 points, 5.5 assists and 5.2 assists per game and connected on 37.5% of his threes on career-high volume.

His shot-creating ability and the way he demanded the defense’s attention made him Miami’s go-to scorer in the clutch. His perimeter threat combined with Bam Adebayo’s interior presence was a key strength in their Play-In Tournament run and their first round series against the Cavaliers.

Beyond his production, Herro’s injury has also come at a pivotal financial moment. The guard is eligible for a lucrative extension, which can potentially stretch to $150M over three years, although he hasn’t been signed yet. This means that, unless he can keep up his production, he risks losing a lot of money when negotiations begin. In the meantime, Miami’s addition of Norman Powell can help fill the scoring gap, but his skillset cannot replace Herro’s combination of shooting and playmaking.

Who Can Step up in Tyler Herro’s Absence

With Tyler Herro sidelined following surgery, the Heat face a test of versatility. Powell is expected to shoulder most of the offensive burden as a primary perimeter scorer, where he did most of his damage last year. When partnered alongside a good playmaker, he can carry late-clock responsibilities, which closely mirror Herro’s shot-creation and offensive contribution.

Alongside him, the point guard spot is a major issue. Terry Rozier is an option to be the floor general, with an average of 5.6 assists per game during 2023-24, the last season he averaged more than 30 minutes a night.

His ability to drive and create for his perimeter-oriented teammates works in theory, but his production took a serious dip in 2024-25, leaving questions about his reliability.

If not Rozier, Davion Mitchell is another option. While not as polished as Rozier offensively, Mitchell provides similar levels of playmaking, averaging 5.3 assists in his Heat career, alongside elite defense at the one. Mitchell’s perimeter pressure and quick hands can easily disrupt opposing guards, and shift the Heat towards a more ‘defense first’ approach.

An unconventional answer to fix the lack of Herro is opting for a taller lineup. By pushing sophomore Kel’el Ware to the starting lineup, the Heat’s frontcourt will boast one of the best defensive frontlines in the league, combined with elite wing defense from Andrew Wiggins and solid offensive production from Norman Powell to keep them afloat, alongside either Rozier to supplement offensive or Mitchell to add to elite defense.

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra needs to figure out his starters by the time the season starts if Miami has any hopes of staying competitive.