The next big move that the Miami Heat makes or doesn’t make this offseason will revolve around a Tyler Herro contract extension. But to be perfectly honest, if the Heat does end up signing Herro to a contract extension, it must come with the one condition that it’s a contract that could be easily traded.

The last thing the Heat needs to do is to lock themselves into another highly expensive and untradeable contract. In a vacuum, if Herro does get anywhere near close to the max contract extension he’s seeking, it would quickly emerge as one of the most untradable contracts in the league.

Tyler Herro is one of the most polarizing players in the NBA

There’s a huge difference between paying Herro $30-35 million per season and paying him $40-50 million per season. And depending on where his next contact falls, that’s what will ultimately determine how he’s looked across the league.

Right now, the perception of Herro is somewhat distorted. In theory, he’s a good basketball player. On the offensive end of the floor, he’s the type of player every team needs. However, in the right role.

For the Heat, asking him to play more of a lead role has only hurt his cause. Herro playing out of role in Miami has forced him into this narrative that he’s overvalued by the Heat. That’s because the perfect role for Herro is as a third or fourth option. Not a first or second.

And because of the lack of top-tier talent that the Heat has on its roster, Herro has been forced to take a much bigger role than he should. The good news for Herro is that it’s pushed him into a spot where he could ask for more money. For the Heat, it put them into a position in which they may have to overpay for him to retain him.

But that’s where the Heat should draw the line. So when October 1 arrives, when Herro officially becomes contract extension eligible, Miami should keep this in mind.

The Heat should play the long game with Herro

Even though it’s an approach that comes with much more risk, the Heat should play the wait-and-see game with Herro. Bypassing a contract extension for Herro now will allow the Heat to either include him in a deal at the NBA Trade Deadline, or it will allow the rest of the league to set the market for Herro in free agency.

Again, there’s a chance Herro could spurn the Heat and leave in free agency without giving them an opportunity to match an offer, but this is also the path that gives the team the most flexibility.

And if the Heat isn’t able to corral a star player between now and next summer, they could also just re-sign Herro. But it won’t be at an outrageous number. It’ll be at a number that is set by the rest of the market.

Ultimately, that should be the Heat’s goal with Herro. I’m sure they’d much rather keep him on the roster, but it needs to come at a number that makes sense for all sides involved. Perhaps most importantly, the extension needs to come at a number where the Heat won’t have issues trading, just in case.

As much as Herro should be looking out for himself in these upcoming contract negotiations, so should the Heat.