"We have never shopped him" - Pat Riley debunks rumors about Tyler Herro during Damian Lillard trade saga

The Miami Heat were linked with Damian Lillard all summer long, with Tyler Herro being one of the rumored players going the other way. However, the Heat stayed put and are now setting sights on turning Herro into a star. Team president Pat Riley even debunked the reports that they shopped the young guard this offseason.

In an interview with Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, Riley opened up about the Lillard trade saga that engulfed the team in the offseason. He explained that whenever a player like Dame is available, no one is untouchable. He did deny ever shopping Herro in the summer.

"We have never shopped him and had no interest in ever trading the guy," Riley said. "But when you're talking about acquiring one of the top five players in the league, there isn't anybody on our team that won't be discussed."

The Miami Heat failed to acquire Damian Lillard, who was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team deal with the Phoenix Suns. The Heat were not willing to meet the Portland Trail Blazers demands, so they now have to compete in a much-loaded Eastern Conference with a possibly weaker team from last year.

Despite no obvious improvements, Pat Riley remains confident about their team this season. Riley also hinted that they are fully invested in Tyler Herro to be the next star after Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

"To win it, it's going to take this mentality on the part of our team and on the part of our three best players — most importantly, Jimmy and Bam and Tyler," Riley said. "They're the guys we really look to, the guys that are getting paid, they have to have far and away their career-best years that impact winning. So, whatever that is, scoring, rebounding, assists, not turning it over, defensively, whatever it is ... That's what it's going to take."

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Tyler Herro happy to stay in Miami

Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat

Tyler Herro was ready to leave the Miami Heat when his name was linked to the Damian Lillard trade. Herro's trade value also took a hit when rumors of other teams not seeing him as a star affected him in positive and negative ways,

However, at the end of the day, the Wisconsin native is happy to stay in South Beach and continue his career with the Heat. He's looking forward to reminding everyone how good he is and why he should be mentioned among the top young players in the league.

"I was happy. Ecstatic, really," Herro said. "My family's here, my kids, my (friends) live in Miami. Came from Milwaukee with me, everything is in Miami. If I were to get traded, at the end of my career Miami will still be my home."

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