New addition Kevin Love got the surprise start at power forward on Friday night for the Heat, tweets Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. That moved Caleb Martin to the bench for the first time in 2022-23, Winderman adds (via Twitter).
Head coach Erik Spoelstra said it was a bit surprising that Love was available, Winderman writes in a story for the Sun Sentinel.
“First you go through the trade deadline and see if there was anything that makes sense, and there really wasn’t.” Spoelstra said. “And then you’re just hopeful. You’re not really sure of who’s going to get bought out. And you hear rumors. This one was a little bit of a surprise. And then when Kevin became available or at least there was possible discussion about it, everybody was all in on it. It was a no-brainer. The fit just makes a lot of sense for all of us.”
Part of the reason it's surprising that Love got the starting nod is Martin has been solid this season, averaging 10.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 1.0 SPG on .454/.361/.764 shooting in 49 games (30.3 MPG). The other reason is that Love had been out of Cleveland’s rotation for the final 12 games leading into the All-Star break, which is reportedly why he wanted a buyout — this is his first appearance in a month.
Here’s more from Miami:
- The team’s other recent addition, center Cody Zeller, was the first reserve to enter for the Heat in Friday’s contest, notes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Zeller spent his first eight seasons in Charlotte but played for Portland in ’21-22.
- Point guard Kyle Lowry, who has been dealing with knee soreness, isn’t traveling with the team this weekend, but there’s a chance he could rejoin the team in Philadelphia on Monday, per Winderman (Twitter link).
- According to Jackson, the Heat are weighing the possibility of using Lowry off the bench when he returns, though the decision also depends on how well Gabe Vincent and the Heat perform in his absence. Lowry heard his name pop up in trade rumors, but no deal was made. Jackson writes that the Lowry and the Heat are on good terms, and they’re confident on his knee prognosis, which played a factor in Miami adding two frontcourt players and not another ball-handler.
- The plan is for Omer Yurtseven to play with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, in about a week, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. Yurtseven is ramping up for his season debut following ankle surgery. “It’s going to be South Dakota, play in Sioux Falls for a bit and then feel good and move on,” Yurtseven said. “Step by step.”
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