Tyler Herro is ‘telling people’ that the Heat are trading him away

Tyler Herro is prepared for the worst.

After reports that superstar guard Damian Lillard has requested a trade out of Portland and his preferred destination is Miami, the 23-year-old Heat guard has been telling people he is getting traded, according to Five Reasons Sports’ Ethan J. Skolnick.

“Tyler Herro believes he’s going to get traded,” Skolnick said on the “Five on the Floor” podcast. “I can say that, okay, that that’s what he’s been telling people. He’s expecting to be traded. We don’t expect it to be a two-team trade if it ends up happening.

“There’s going to be a third team involved. We thought it would be the [San Antonio] Spurs. Everything seems to be leaning towards the Nets more as a more legitimate possibility right now. They did sign Lonnie Walker, but I heard that that won’t preclude them from doing anything as far as going for Herro.”

With the Portland Trail Blazers searching for the best possible offer for Lillard, Herro would almost certainly be included in any trade scenario for the Heat as he is coming off one of the best seasons in his young career, averaging 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists while also leading the league in free throw percentage at a 93-percent clip.

However, Herro broke his hand one quarter into the postseason and the Heat went on a stunning run to the NBA Finals with him on the bench.

Miami’s success without Herro — combined with a four-year, $120 million extension that kicks in next season — makes him the most likely piece for the Heat to trade away.

It seems likely the Heat would need a third team included in order to make a trade with the Blazers work, so Herro’s destination remains unclear.

While it is not certain that the Heat will acquire Lillard, Herro has already begun to count down his days in Miami.