NBA free agency, 2023
Eastern side
It was probably the Josh Richardson acquisition which turned everyone on Tyler Herro.
Josh Richardson’s been ho-hum for, like, five teams in a row. Philly, Dallas, Boston, the Spurs, Pelicans: Josh was was fine, but nothing more. Yet the Heat re-acquire Josh Richardson, whom inspires nobody, and we realize Richardson can more or less cover the ground Tyler Herro stalks.
Everyone loves Tyler Herro, fun as hell, but Josh Richardson is Tyler Herro Insurance. Eminently able, Tyler Herro insurance.
Miami has always been this bold, it doesn’t need Brian Windhorst pointing skyward. The Heat seek Damian Lillard. Before that, it was Kyle Lowry. Before that, Jimmy Butler. Before that, LeBron James announced on national TV that he thinks the No. 23 should be retired NBA-wide, a few months before joining a team which already retired No. 23.
Pat Riley doesn’t bluff. The man dealt for Alonzo Mourning in his first weeks on the job because it was inconceivable Pat Riley have to coach without an all-world center in his pivot.
