"I think we have enough respect for each other that we texted each other once the deal went through just to wish each other the best on it," Spoelstra said. "And we also have that respect that you want each other to learn about the respective players without any kind of influence."

Zachary Weinberger is a credentialed Miami Heat reporter and an Associate Editor covering the NBA at-large, NCAA Football, and NCAA Basketball for ClutchPoints. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022, covering sports at the FAU University Press and later at The Palm Beach Post.

After Wednesday’s game, and once Butler was officially no longer a member of the Heat, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about the results of the team closing a chapter, but he mostly addressed his team’s ability to focus amid challenging times, which is often his status quo.