2 Heat players whose stock is rising, 1 whose stock is falling

Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler have led the Miami Heat to their current seven-game win streak, but several role players have stepped up big to help. Let's take a look at players whose stock is up, and one whose stock is down.

Miami Heat v Atlanta Hawks
Miami Heat v Atlanta Hawks | Alex Slitz/GettyImages
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Kevin Love, De'Andre Hunter
Miami Heat v Atlanta Hawks | Alex Slitz/GettyImages

Stock up: Kevin Love

After dealing with a shoulder contusion and then being replaced in the starting lineup by Haywood Highsmith, Love is back in the rotation as Bam Adebayo's primary backup at center.

Love's numbers don't stand out, but he has been a good fit with the starters when Adebayo needs a break. Love hasn't been shooting well from 3 this year, but his reputation keeps opposing teams honest. He's an excellent passer who can still help facilitate on offense from the high post.

Defensively, Love has never been a great on-ball stopper but rebounds and has a knack for taking charges. As Love has shown before, he's capable of switching and blitzing pick-and-rolls, so he can give Miami's defense some different looks.

Love's willingness to take a step back in the rotation sets an unselfish tone for the locker room.

“I think the transition that he’s made at this stage of his career, most former All-Stars can’t or aren’t willing to do it,” Spoelstra said after Thursday's win over the Nets. “And he’s really a star in that kind of role.”

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