Last year, Miami Heat president Pat Riley used his season-ending news conference to challenge Heat guard Tyler Herro by labeling him as “fragile” because of his injury issues. This year, Riley used his season-ending session with the media to show his appreciation for Herro.

Q: So Pat Riley said the Heat are trading for Kevin Durant. Pat Riley didn’t say it, but he gave all the clues, talking about age and short contracts and a veteran who can help win the playoffs. Read the tea leaves. – Carl.

In a candid end-of-season press conference Friday, Heat president Pat Riley acknowledged that the well-publicized fallout with Jimmy Butler cast a long shadow over Miami’s season, calling it a major factor in the team’s underperformance.