Love returns to Cleveland, explains what changed since he left. And Herro out vs. Cavs
For the first time since asking for a buyout from the Cavaliers and then signing with the Heat nearly two years ago, Kevin Love returned to Cleveland’s Rocket Arena on Wednesday in a very different place than when he departed the Cavs as an NBA champion and ranked ninth in team history in both points and rebounds.
While slipping out of the rotation prompted Love to seek a buyout two years ago, Love, 36, now happily accepts a role that includes only sporadic appearances, including a nine-rebound, 12-minute stint on Monday against Washington, when the Heat was missing five rotation players.
Why is he more accepting of limited playing time now than he was two years ago?
“I wasn’t ready yet,” Love said of becoming a bench-warmer in the spring of 2023, at age 34.
And now?
“I’m certainly understanding of where I’m at,” he said this week. “It’s one of the things I told coach. I get it. I want to keep pouring into this team and doing whatever I can. Stay ready, and if I do or do not get time, I’m going to keep being a mentor or sounding board for [teammates].”
That entails offering life lessons.
“I let Tyler [Herro] come to me about stuff non-basketball related,” he said. “I’m trying to create a really great ecosystem here where we can celebrate each other, celebrate small wins, and build guys up. I know how this thing goes. It’s monotonous. Guys can get into a situation [where they’re wondering], ‘Are we headed for the play-in again? Or what are we doing?”
Having taking the brunt of the leadership mantle from retired Udonis Haslem, Love believes his role entails keeping teammates engaged and inspired, through levity, serious discussions when needed and being a sounding board.
Monday’s appearance was just his fifth in the past 27 games that he has been available for. He has played just 36 minutes since Jan. 1.
“I’m of the mind-set where you have to play it out and see what [happens],” he said. “You never know.”
Even when he’s not playing, the intentions are pure, as coach Erik Spoelstra would say. “If I can impart any of that [knowledge] to any of these guys” that’s a positive, he said. “I’ve been lucky; I’ve done very well. I want to help them. Veterans matter.”
Love — who’s under contract for $4.2 million next season — did not accompany the Heat to two games in Cleveland last season, once because of an injury and another for personal reasons. Wednesday is Miami’s only game at the Cavaliers this season, though it’s possible the teams could meet in a 1 vs. 8 playoff matchup.
“It will be great to see a lot of people, from everybody that works in the arena, security guards, all the way to the front office and ownership and former teammates,” said Love, who averaged 15.7 points and 9.2 rebounds in nine seasons and 489 games with Cleveland.
“I have so much love for that organization and city and Ohio. When you go on a Finals run with special players, that will always be a part of you. I’ll probably go home and look at my ring and reflect a little bit.”
Injury update
▪ Herro missed Wednesday’s shootaround with a head cold and has been ruled out for Wednesday night’s Cavaliers game. It marks the third game that Herro has missed this season.
▪ Davion Mitchell and Spoelstra said Mitchell will play Wednesday after missing a game with a quadriceps contusion.
“It was bothering me the day afterwards. I’m good now,” he said.
Mitchell said the injury happened Sunday against the Knicks: “Mitchell Robinson set a screen and I end up falling down and running into Jalen Brunson and I end up getting called for a foul for an illegal screen. It’s crazy. He hit me in quad. I played the rest of the game but it was bothering me.”
With Mitchell back, the Heat will have at least 10 available players on standard contracts for the Cavaliers game -- and 11 if Herro plays. Heat two-way players Isaiah Stevens and Josh Christopher also will be available.
Andrew Wiggins (ankle), Kel’el Ware (knee), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (ankle) and Nikola Jovic (hand) remain out.
▪ Part of Spoelstra’s rationale with playing Kyle Anderson, Haywood Highsmith and Duncan Robinson off the bench on Monday — even with Miami down to nine players — was a desire to “keep some parts of the rotation continuity where guys feel familiar. If we can get guys playing well in their role, I think that’s important.
“Whenever Duncan plays well, it has a massive impact on our team. I want him feeling comfort. He has played really well. That spark, that energy off the bench is important. and Kyle is a plug and play guy. I’m really impressed with his IQ and feel for the game. You put the ball in his hands and he can do a lot of stuff that Bam [Adebayo] does at the top of the floor. He can run offense.”
This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 12:07 PM.
