SA37 wrote:VaDe255 wrote:SA37 wrote:
This is the wrong way to look at this.
There is no reason to pay a player 25-30% of the cap when you can get similar production for less. Norman Powell, Devin Vassell, and DeMar DeRozan make significantly less than Herro and are going to give you as good or better production. It's no different than asking why would anyone pay Bradley Beal $50+M/year when they could get similar or better production from Herro, Powell, or DeRozan. That's why there is a "debate". Giving monstrous contracts to non-star players is ALWAYS a no-no.
Kyrie Irving is worlds better than Herro and will be paid $39 and $42M/year in 26-27 and 27-28, respectively. In those same season, Ja Morant will make $42 and $45M. Jalen Brunson will make $37, $40, and $43M in 26-27, 27-28, and 28-29. Herro is not worth more than Kyrie Irving, Ja Morant or Jalen Brunson.
Paying Herro significantly more than there players is a fool's errand and completely unjustifiable unless Herro gets significantly better.
If you genuinely think Powell is on the same level as Herro or provides the same production or impact, then there’s really not much to discuss. That’s just objectively false, it’s not even close when you actually look at usage, creation responsibility and role. Believe what you want, but at some point, facts are facts.
On the salary comps, Ja is on a standard rookie max, Kyrie is still making a massive salary at 33y coming off a major injury and Brunson is one of the big underpays in the league (a rare exception, not a standard setter). If Herro took the Brunson deal, it would be a huge win for the Heat but that’s just not a realistic expectation
Herro is mediocre or worse at pretty much everything that isn't shooting or scoring, and he isn't even an elite scorer. His only elite skill is shooting.
There is a huge reset in player values happening and Miami has a chance to get ahead of the curve. Why get stuck like Denver (Jamal Murray), Atlanta (Young), Orlando (Bane), Phoenix (Beal), Toronto (Ingram), or Philly (P George) paying outrageous sums for guys who aren't elite or even all-stars?
Do not make the mistake of confusing versatility with being better. There was a whole era of people looking for versatility -- guys who could "defend 5 positions" and point-forwards. For every KG, Grant Hill, Lamar Odom, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant, and Antoine Walker, you had Darius Miles, Ben Simmons, Tim Thomas, Billy Owens, Jonathan Bender, Nikola Tsikitichsvili (sp?), Jared Jeffries, Darko Milicic, Charlie Villanueva, Marvin Williams, Justise Winslow, KZ Okpala, Adam Morrison, Tyrus Thomas, Yi Jianlin, Anthony Randolph....etc.
Moving the goalposts now, aren't we? First it was “you can get Herro level production from Powell,” which isn’t true. Now it's that Herro isn’t versatile or elite enough to deserve a max.
Players who can score efficiently, create off the dribble and perform well enough to earn All Star recognition at 25 years old get paid. Whether Herro is “elite” is debatable but he’s clearly productive, still improving and plays a major offensive role alongside Bam, exactly the kind of piece that complements him.
As for the “reset in player values” maybe. But let’s not pretend teams are actually avoiding big deals for non superstars. The top 50 guys are mostly getting paid (depending on age and team context). Lowballing Herro doesn’t put Miami ahead of the curve, it just creates unnecessary friction with their most talented offensive player.
I’m not even saying this is necessarily what I would do, just reading the tea leaves and laying out what the Heat are very likely to do.
