Prospect scouting report: Tyler Herro

The Charlotte Hornets need outside shooting. They may also need a wing to replace the potential of Jeremy Lamb in free agency. Although he’s typically projected to go a bit after the Hornets pick at 12, Tyler Herro checks both of those boxes.

Measurements

Height: 6’4” without shoes, 6’6.5” in shoes
Wingspan: 6’3.25”
Standing reach: 8’4.5”
Weight: 192 pounds

Strengths: Shooting stroke, play making potential, effort level

Tyler Herro’s main NBA skill is his shooting stroke. He has perfect form with terrific balance both off the catch and the dribble. He’s very good at pulling up for three in transition and can create space for himself with step backs and pull-ups. He shot too many long 2-pointers at Kentucky, but that should be fixable once he gets to the NBA. His 93.5% free throw percentage suggests he’ll be a terrific shooter in time despite his 35.5% 3-point percentage at Kentucky.

Herro has enough ball skills to be a secondary creator on offense. He won’t blow by defenders to get to the rim, but he can use pump fakes to attack closeouts and get into the teeth of the defense. From their, he can use his soft touch to hit floaters and make plays for others.

Herro plays with a lot of energy. He doesn’t have great length for a wing player, but he tries on the defensive end and is very active off the ball offensively.

Question marks: Finishing at the rim, defensive potential

Herro is not an explosive athlete and struggles to get to the rim with a defender in front of him. When he does get there, he’s a very below-the-rim finisher. Per ESPN’s scouting report, “[Herro] made only 24 shots at the rim in the half-court in 37 games. Shot under 50% at the rim and generated only 3.1 free throws per 40 minutes.” His extremely short wingspan relative to his height likely limits his potential here.

His wingspan and reach also put a cap on his defensive upside. He tries, but he isn’t particularly disruptive on that end of the court, averaging just 1.3 steals and 0.4 blocks per 40 minutes. There’s also a question about who he can guard at the next level. He’s not quite quick enough to guard point guards nor is he long enough to guard wings.

Overview

If the Hornets select Tyler Herro, they’ll immediately improve their outside shooting and have a replacement for Jeremy Lamb should he depart in free agency. However, they’ll still have a lot of questions to answer on the defensive end. Herro is a safe pick in that he has a very defined role in the NBA, but there will be players available with more upside.