The Miami Heat retained a helpful rotation player on Sunday evening, agreeing to a new two-year contract with Kevin Love.

Love agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal, a contract that contains no player or team option for the second season.

Love opted out of a contract that would have paid him $4 million next season, raising hopes that he might sign a deal that would lower the Heat’s tax commitment for next season. As it turned out, his new deal won’t result in significant cap savings for Miami.

Love was an asset as a backup center last season, appearing in 55 games and starting five and shooting 34.4 percent on threes.

Love, who turns 36 in September, averaged 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

Per 36 minutes last regular season, Love averaged 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

It’s the most points he has averaged per 36 minutes since the 2021-22 season, the most rebounds he has averaged per 36 minutes since the 2018-19 season and the most assists he has averaged per 36 minutes in his NBA career.

The Heat outscored opponents by 6.5 points per 100 possessions with Love on the court last regular season.

Free agency opened at 6 p.m. ET Sunday, and the Heat remained in contention to sign forward Haywood Highsmith, who is expected to receive interest from a handful of other teams.

Caleb Martin is exploring other options after conversations with the Heat in recent days.

Love’s return leaves the Heat with 10 players with standard contracts:

Love, Jimmy Butler ($48.8 million), Bam Adebayo ($34.8 million), Tyler Herro ($29 million), Terry Rozier ($24.9 million), Duncan Robinson ($19.4 million), Kel’el Ware ($4.2 million, hasn’t signed contract yet), Jaime Jaquez Jr. ($3.7 million), Josh Richardson ($3.1 million) and Nikola Jovic ($2.5 million).

If the Heat signs second-round draft pick Pelle Larsson out of Arizona to a standard contract, he would become the 11th Heat player locked into a standard deal for next season. Miami could also sign Larsson a two-way contract.

If the Heat retains Orlando Robinson - whose $2.1 million salary becomes guaranteed in mid-July - that would be the 11th or 12th player, depending on what Miami does with Larsson.

If the Heat re-signs Highsmith and guard Delon Wright, that would bring the roster to 13 or 14.

The Heat, which is about $6 million over the $171 million luxury tax line, could again begin the season with the minimum-required 14 players.

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