Heat's Tyler Herro Faces 8-12 Week Absence After Ankle Surgery Impacting Season Outlook

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is expected to be out for eight to 12 weeks following surgery to address a complicated ankle injury involving an extra bone in his foot. Herro revealed that surgery was necessary after conservative treatments failed, and while the initial team expectation was around eight weeks, Herro optimistically told coach Erik Spoelstra he could return in six weeks. The 25-year-old All-Star, who had a career-best season before the injury, is anticipated to miss the start of the season, with the Heat relying on players like Davion Mitchell, Norman Powell, and potentially Terry Rozier to fill his role. This absence forces the Heat to decide whether to prioritize immediate success by using veteran Rozier or focus on developing younger talent such as Pelle Larsson and rookie Kasparas Jakucionis. The decision will reveal the team's true direction as they balance winning now against building for the future. Herro remains optimistic about returning at a high level and the Heat hope to build on last season's playoff appearance once he recovers.