Among the names mentioned as a potential option for the Detroit Pistons this offseason has been Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, who would immediately fill the offensive void alongside Cade Cunningham in the Motor City.
Over the last week, it felt inevitable that Herro would be joining the Milwaukee Bucks when the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga officially came to an end, but that was when Pat Riley and the Heat were the only team on the Greek Freak's list of preferred destinations that was pursuing him on the trade market.
In the last 24 hours, a lot has changed, and according to NBA mind Bill Simmons, suggesting that the Boston Celtics were essentially playing "possum" and are now in pursuit of the two-time MVP.
To add onto Simmons' assumption, NBA Insider Jake Fischer followed the rumor up with his latest report (subscription) that all but confirmed that Boston is widely being viewed as a team to watch, and one that the Heat are "genuinely concerned" about.
Regardless if the Heat win the Giannis sweepstakes or not, it feels like they have officially burnt a bridge with the sharpshooting guard that opens the door wide open for the Pistons.
There is no way the Heat can bring Tyler Herro back now
For years, Herro has been offered up by the Heat in pursuit of nearly every star player that has become available.
Most recently, the Kentucky product has found himself thrown out as the centerpiece in Miami's package for Damian Lillard and now Antetokounmpo.
And while it's a business at the end of the day, there's only so much disrespect a player can take.
Herro's latest post on Instagram on Wednesday suggested that he knew his time in South Beach was coming to an end, and that was when it felt like the Heat were sitting as the lone suitor for Antetokounmpo.
In the post, you can visibly see Herro is punching a dummy wearing a Heat jersey, and following that up with the cryptic image of a Buck from his younger brother, Austin Herro, it aligns with all the recent reporting.
Mix in the fact that Herro unfollowed the Heat on instagram, it seems like the relationship is over.
Nonetheless, if the Celtics, or any other team, step in to steal Giannis away from Miami, there's no world in which the guard can go back to the organization and move on like everything is fine.
It's only a matter of time before the Heat finally trade him for real, and if they're going to anyway, why not to the Pistons?
Detroit needs a second scoring option to help alleviate the pressure on Cunningham, and Herro fits the bill perfectly, not to mention he's proven fully capable of being a playmaker with the ball in his hands.
There are clear limitations on the defensive end, but in the situation Detroit is in, beggars can't be choosers, and if the Pistons can capitalize on a soured relationship, they could get Herro for much cheaper than they originally expected.
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