Author: Monojit Mandal
With Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers’ star player, recently requesting a trade to the Miami Heat, the spotlight has turned to the possible package Miami could offer the seven-time world champion. Tyler Herro, the former Sixth Man of the Year, is at the center of the debate, with some believing he is not worthy of being included in a trade for Lillard. According to reports, the Portland Trail Blazers may seek the involvement of a third or fourth club in the deal, as they are not interested in acquiring Herro, a 23-year-old point guard.
Although the Miami Heat are currently the main offer for Lillard, league experts think that other teams are capable of offering more attractive offers. The Philadelphia 76ers are one of those clubs and, according to rumors, are exploring a proposal centered on their young and skilled point guard Tyrese Maxey.
According to an important Eastern Conference scouting executive quoted by Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, the comparison between Tyler Herro and Tyrese Maxey is close, but the executive prefers Maxey because of his development potential, efficiency and defensive ability. “In the future, Maxey will be a better defender when he returns to his position,” said the CEO. With Herro, I believe there’s a sense that he can improve defensively on the margins, but that’s about it. I’m not sure how to compare them, but if there was an expansion draft, Maxey would be selected seven or eight picks ahead of Herro. That’s perhaps the best way to put it.“
This dispute between Herro and Maxey gained popularity after Dan LeBatard, of Meadowlark Media, declared that it is unlikely that the Trail Blazers will find a better young talent than Herro in exchange for Lillard. However, opinions differ, and not everyone believes that Herro is a better player than Maxey.
Despite the analogies and suspicions surrounding Lillard’s trade package, the 76ers have remained steadfast in their refusal to include Maxey in any prospective deal, as they see him as a future star. The Miami Heat, on the other hand, have already included Herro in an official offer for Lillard. However, that doesn’t mean the Heat consider Herro disposable, as he was included in the team’s trade offers for Kevin Durant.
In terms of recent performances, Herro’s successes with the Heat have surpassed Maxey’s in the league so far. Herro averaged 20.1 points per game in his first season as a starter, as well as 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Meanwhile, Maxey is coming off his best season ever, averaging 20.3 points per game, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while shooting 43.4% from beyond the arc.
While discussions about the deal continue, it’s unclear which team will ultimately acquire Damian Lillard’s talents and which players will be included in the high-risk transaction. The conclusion could have far-reaching consequences for the future of these two young and promising guards, Tyler Herro and Tyrese Maxey, as well as for their respective organizations.
The resemblance between Tyler Herro and Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a major topic of discussion amid rumors of a trade involving NBA player Damian Lillard.