The Miami Heat will soon have to make a tough decision regarding star guard Tyler Herro. Starting on Oct. 1, the Heat will be able to offer Herro a major contract extension. It will mark a chance to sign him to a long-term deal not long after he put up career-highs in points and assists per game in the 2024-25 campaign.

Some fans seem to be split on just how valuable a player Herro is as his extension window approaches, but one league scout indicated recently that he holds the former University of Kentucky star in high regard.

The anonymous scout was asked by the Sun Sentinel to rank San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox, New York Knicks wing Mikal Bridges and Herro, regardless of “the amount of salary realized in extensions.” He put Herro at No. 1.

“1. Tyler Herro. 2. De’Aaron Fox. 3. Mikal Bridges,” the scout responded. “Bridges is clearly the third. Not quite the defender he’s cracked up to be. He is better in that area than the other two, but not enough to move him up. The other advantage he has is his durability. Herro is the best shooter, most efficient offensive player and has shown he can make plays. Fox has infrequently shot it well and is a poor defender, but is a productive scorer/playmaker. I think, after last year, Herro and Fox would be at least ‘No. 3s’ on contenders; a little less sure about Bridges. I always tend to favor the better offensive player.”

Fox and Bridges were the two other players involved in the discussion because they received lucrative extensions from their teams recently. Fox agreed to a four-year, $229 million extension with the Spurs, while Bridges reached an agreement with the Knicks on a four-year, $150 million extension. It’s worth noting that the scout thinks Fox was overpaid.

“That was a big overpay, for sure,” the scout said of Fox’s extension.

The scout’s illuminating ranking of the three players comes in light of some speculation that Herro will want more than $40 million annually. When the October window opens, he will be eligible for a deal worth around $50 million annually.

If the Heat don’t ink Herro to an extension when October rolls around, they can circle back with him next offseason, possibly at a higher price point. He is scheduled to make $31 million this coming season, $33 million in the 2026-27 season and then would hit free agency in the summer of 2027 if he were to go without a new deal.

Soon, the Heat can put their money where their mouth is and show how much they value Herro by offering him a lucrative deal that would keep him with the organization for years to come. However, nothing is set in stone as of now.