It certainly had an impact,” Spoelstra said Wednesday when asked how Butler’s contentious exit impacted the team. “We are an organization that prides ourselves on not making any kind of excuses.

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.

During an exit interview on Wednesday, Spoelstra remarked that the Heat "deserved" both criticism and embarrassment for their playoff exit -- a four-game sweep to the top-seeded Cavaliers that punctuated Miami's downturn in fortunes since it traded superstar Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors on February 6.