MIAMI — As the top of the Eastern Conference continues to strengthen, it has been a quiet start to free agency for the Miami Heat.

With league-wide free agent negotiations allowed to begin Sunday at 6 p.m., veteran center Kevin Love agreed to a two-year contract worth about $8 million to stay with the Heat just minutes after the negotiating period began. The deal does not include a player or team option for the second season, according to a league source.

But that’s the only addition the Heat has made to its 15-man standard roster, as of Monday evening.

The Heat lost veteran guard Delon Wright to the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency on Monday. Wright, who proved to be a short-term rental for the Heat after signing with Miami in February last season following a buyout agreement with the Washington Wizards, agreed to a one-year minimum contract worth $3 million to join the Bucks on Monday.

In bringing back Love, the Heat is retaining an important rotation player who established himself as a reliable and productive backup center for the Heat last regular season after making five NBA All-Star Game appearances earlier in his career.

Love, who turns 36 on Sept. 7 and is preparing for his 17th NBA season, averaged 8.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 34.4 percent on 4.4 three-point attempts per game in a bench role for the Heat last regular season. The Heat outscored opponents by 6.5 points per 100 possessions with Love on the court last regular season.

The issue for the Heat is some of the East’s top teams have made significant upgrades to their rosters this offseason. Meanwhile, the Heat appears to be on track to bring back a very similar core to the one that has needed to qualify for the playoffs through the play-in tournament in each of the last two seasons.

The Philadelphia 76ers reportedly landed nine-time All-Star forward Paul George on a four-year, $212 million maximum contract in free agency. George is teaming up with All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia. The 76ers are also reportedly re-signing Kelly Oubre Jr., while adding Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond in free agency.

The Orlando Magic, which won the Southeast Division over the Heat last season, reportedly added three-and-D guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency. Pope agreed to a three-year contract worth $66 million to join the Magic.

These moves come days after the New York Knicks made a trade to acquire Mikal Bridges, adding Bridges to a talented roster that already included Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo.

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