Heat with time on their hands, but also several critical dates ahead to reshape roster

MIAMI — The last time the Miami Heat were done with their season by the first week in May was five years ago, in 2019, the lottery season when Dwyane Wade completed his farewell tour.

Even when the Heat previously went out in the first round with their opening-round sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, that was a season when elimination did not come until May 29, due to the pandemic-delayed schedule.

So as he wrapped up his team’s season last week, Erik Spoelstra spoke of the emptiest of feelings.