Tyler Herro was the subject of various trade rumors during the offseason amid the Heat’s reported pursuit of former Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard.
Speaking to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel, Herro expressed relief that he remained in Miami after Lillard was eventually traded to the Bucks, indicating that he hadn’t wanted to play in Portland.
“I didn’t want to go to Portland, so I’m glad Portland didn’t want me,” Herro said of the Trail Blazers. “I just don’t want to be in Portland. So it’s not personal with Portland, at all.”
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Lillard had requested a trade from the Trail Blazers and voiced his desire to join the Heat during the offseason. The two teams were unable to bring a deal to fruition in negotiations, though reports indicated that Herro was among the key assets Miami was dangling in those conversations.
Portland, however, was reportedly uninterested in landing the Heat’s young guard in the rumored deal.
Herro doesn’t seem too bothered by the Trail Blazers’ lack of interest.
The 23-year-old is set to enter his fifth NBA season, having played his entire career in Miami. In 2022-23, Herro averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 67 games, while shooting at a 37.8% clip from three-point range.
