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.

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.

The Miami Heat’s season will go down as one of the most tenuous in franchise history. The falling out between Jimmy Butler and Heat president Pat Riley became so toxic that people should’ve been walking around the team in hazmat suits.