The Heat were by no means a top contender in the East when Butler was traded, but without their star they struggled to win games. Miami's struggles were on full display in its first-round matchup with the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke with Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald on Wednesday, April 30, following the conclusion of the campaign and admitted that the Butler saga had long-standing effects on his team.

MIAMI – With the Miami Heat season ending on a frustrating sweep to the Cleveland Cavaliers, there's no doubt that the year will be remembered for how Jimmy Butler exited the team. As Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra touched on the impact of the saga with Butler, so did stars Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo after the conclusion of the season.