As part of the aftermath of the Tyler Herro news, it’s only fair to question how another devastating injury impacts his upcoming contract extension talks.
(Photo via Imagn Images)
Early on Friday morning, the Miami Heat fanbase was hit with the bombshell news of Tyler Herro suffering an offseason ankle injury. As originally reported by Five Reasons Sports and then later confirmed by ESPN, Herro will now undergo surgery on his left foot and be sidelined to begin the 2025-26 campaign.
It is unclear as of now what the exact recovery timeline looks like. But Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang reported that the Heat should be looking to brace themselves to be without their All-Star guard for at least one month, “and possibly a little more” at minimum to start the regular season.
Before the overdue refresh of a new season even starts, the Heat are already looking at adversity.
This was supposed to be a huge year for Herro, and it still can be once he returns. Although Miami will have to hope that no other significant injuries take place to the team’s core in the meantime while awaiting for Herro to get back in the lineup.
After coming off a career-year with averages of nearly 24 points, 5.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds on 47% shooting and 38% from 3-point range, he was expected to continue his All-Star leap from this past season. However, this injury news doesn’t just impact the Heat’s success— but also Herro’s potential payday.
Tyler Herro remains max contract extension eligible beginning in October.
The 25-year-old combo guard was set to explore possible contract extension negotiations heading into this season.
Can only expect that this sudden Tyler Herro surgery will unfortunately impact his new contract talks with the Heat. One full season+ of being injury free was too good to be true…
The durability/longevity has been Herro’s biggest struggle in the league.
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) September 19, 2025
Miami could have offered Herro a three-year, $150 million extension starting on October 1st. If the Heat or Herro waited until the 2026 offseason, he could have been eligible for a four-year, $207 million extension.
There’s a strong chance that this injury could now keep Herro from hitting either of those $50+ million annual salary figures entirely.
He has dealt with unfortunate injury concerns for most of his six-year career in the league, thus far. His rise to All-Star and 3-point champion status last year uncoincidentally came in a campaign in which he appeared in a career-best 77 games played in 2024-25.
Outside of last year, Herro hasn’t appeared in more than 67 out of the possible 82 games played. In his rookie and sophomore years, he played in an average of 54.5 games. The 2023-24 season, just two seasons ago, he played in his career-worst 42 total games. Not to mention time he has been sidelined in recent Heat playoff runs due to injury.
Clearly, there have been durability concerns.
Considering Herro has been hit with injury issues so early in his career, this latest one comes at the most inopportune time possible for him. It’s a rough history that Pat Riley and the Heat front office was assuredly have to consider before a $50 million per year payday.
There’s no question that Herro has talent, potential and work ethic to continue blossoming into a player worthy of that price tag. But the best ability will always be availability.
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