NBA Rookie Ladder: No Zion Williamson, no problem

8. Tyler Herro, Miami Heat

16.3 PPG, 6.3 REB, 1.8 AST

There’s no doubt in my mind Tyler Herro will fly up these rankings as the Miami Heat give him more responsibilities on offense as the team alluded to in preseason play.

Starting Herro at point guard during some exhibition games was indicative of a potential role with the team in the near future.

His success in pick-and-roll play types has been encouraging to say the least, as he’s shown more playmaking chops coming off a screen than he did in college. Matter of fact, he wasn’t given many opportunities to initiate offense like that at Kentucky.

We know Herro is a walking bucket from pretty much anywhere on the floor. A little hesitant to drive to the basket on some plays, that’s expected from a rookie guard who doesn’t have the same bulk and confidence as a bonafide veteran.

Which is fine, because his pull-up game is refined and mature for a player his age. Few guards ever come out of college with the ability to fire at the drop of a dime from anywhere on the floor, let alone a one-and-done draft pick.

Miami has a future scoring star in Herro, and seeing how the team is beginning to invest in him in terms of lead guard duties speaks to how highly he’s already viewed around the organization.