Heat optimistic following Tyler Herro's preseason

After an impressive preseason, Heat guard Tyler Herro has given the team a reason to be optimistic entering the 2021-22 season, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes.

Herro scored more than 25 points in three of his five outings, producing from all three levels. The 21-year-old is coming off a campaign during which he averaged 15.1 points, five rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He’s expected to be the Heat's sixth man this season.

“I mean it feels good, a lot of hard work this offseason,” Herro said. “We’ve got a great group of guys, just feeding life into me, really putting me in positions to be successful, whether it’s the coaching staff or the players around me. So just continuing to work and one day at a time.”

There’s more out of Miami:

• Every player on the Heat is fully vaccinated, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. “We’re a fully vaccinated team, so we can do different things than last year,” Herro said when asked about the first preseason road trip. “It was a little different. Getting on the road was really good for us. Just being on the road and experiencing that for the first time together was good.”
• Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald examines how filling both two-way spots affected the Heat’s Exhibit 10 players. Miami waived Javonte Smart, Dru Smith, Micah Potter and D.J. Stewart on Friday, which was procedural since Caleb Martin and Marcus Garrett already occupy the Heat’s two-way spots.
• Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel explores whether the Heat might’ve moved too quickly with their current roster. Miami is looking to contend again this season — just one calendar year removed from reaching the NBA Finals.