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.

But for the moment, it all feels good, with none of the Jimmy Butler drama getting in the way. Q: Awesome, they’re going to get destroyed in another meaningless blowout first-round series, instead of getting a lottery pick,

Interesting thing I learned while reporting this piece: Miami’s strong interest in Andrew Wiggins was a huge advantage for the Warriors in the Jimmy Butler trade sweepstakes.