Heat coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t mince words Wednesday, calling this season “turbulent” in light of the prolonged drama surrounding former star Jimmy Butler.

Spoelstra, speaking during Miami’s exit interviews, acknowledged that Butler’s rocky final months with the team were anything but smooth sailing.

“It was turbulent waters,” Spoelstra said, via Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. “I’ve never been in a situation like that — trying to hold a locker room together while dealing with all of it.”

The Butler saga, which began with frustrations over a lack of contract extension and public challenges from team president Pat Riley, ultimately ended with three suspensions and a trade to Golden State just before the deadline. In between, Butler’s discontent was a constant presence around the team.

Tyler Herro, who often tried to hold the Heat together on the court, admitted the situation was a weight.

“I think it was just the overall wondering when is it going to end,” Herro said. “That was kind of the main thing — when can we just focus on basketball? That’s what we’re here to do.”

After Butler’s departure, the season didn’t get much better. Miami finished 12–21 down the stretch, including a 10-game losing streak in March. The Heat managed to win eight of their final 12 regular-season games and made history as the first 10th seed to survive the play-in tournament. But any hopes of a Cinderella run ended fast with a first-round sweep by Cleveland. Two home playoff games ended in 37- and 53-point blowouts.

Spoelstra, though, said the final month of the season showed signs of life.

“When I say it’s a memorable season, the memories will be like the last four weeks,” he said. “The rest of the season was a grind.”

The Heat eventually found cohesion through the adversity, Spoelstra added, even as the team was forced to shift its style after the All-Star break.

“All the other adversities, it made me better,” he said.

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Bam Adebayo, speaking after Sunday’s Game 4 loss, hinted that changes are necessary but deferred the specifics to team leadership.

“That’s more of a Pat Riley question,” Adebayo said. “He knows how much I want to win. After he talks to you, he’ll probably talk to me and we’ll figure out what happens.”