Original Pick: Darius Garland, Vanderbilt
Full disclosure: I do not believe that the Miami Heat would have made their run to the 2023 NBA Finals if Tyler Herro was healthy and playing. A major part of their success has been the lack of poor defenders they have put on the floor, and Herro’s greatest flaw to this point in his career has been a complete lack of impact on that end of the court.
So how does he make it up to fifth in our redraft? In part that is because this class lacks true difference-makers after the first three picks. The other reality is that what Herro does well is extremely valuable in the NBA, and it’s why he got paid like a star by the Miami Heat.
Herro is a wizard with the ball in his hands, able to get separation for his smooth jumper or for a layup finish at the rim. He has shot 38.3 percent from 3-point range for his career, many of those difficult pull-up attempts. He is fast, he is smart, and whether he is starting or coming off of the bench his offensive impact has been critical for the Heat on that end.
The Cleveland Cavaliers originally chose a player with much of the same offensive impact as Tyler Herro, except for the fact that Darius Garland is an excellent passer and Herro is less developed in that area. Seeing Herro and Collin Sexton develop alongside one another would have been an interesting test case.