INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The pain in Kevin Love’s surgically repaired left shoulder has become manageable. The Cleveland forward is now dealing with a different ache – the sting of sitting and watching the NBA finals.

Knocked from his first playoffs in the opening round by injury, Love spoke Sunday for the first time since undergoing an operation to repair the extensive damage caused when Boston’s Kelly Olynyk pulled on his arm and yanked it from the socket. Love is pleased with the progress of his recovery and he intends to be ready for the start of next season.

In Cleveland. Not New York, Los Angeles or anywhere else.

Love can opt out of the one year remaining on his contract by June 30 and either negotiate for a new deal with the Cavs or test the market as an unrestricted free agent. And as has been the case all season, the three-time All-Star, whose future has been the subject of speculation almost since the day he was traded to the Cavaliers, indicated he has no plans to leave.

“I expect to be suiting up by Game 1 of next year,” he said.

For the Cavs?

“Yes, sir,” he said.

Noticeably thinner after losing 15 pounds during his recovery, Love said not being on the floor with his teammates has been emotionally difficult. After six seasons in Minnesota, he was finally in the playoffs and appearing to hit his stride after a season in which his role transformed, when Olynyk’s aggressive play ended Love’s season in Game 4.

Following that game, Love said he felt Olynyk, who was suspended for the first game next season, had tried to intentionally hurt him. He feels differently now.

“I initially was very emotional about the play,” he said. “I think everybody thinks, ‘Oh, he’s going to be able to come back, pop it right in,’ but at the time when it happened, I kind of knew. And about a week went by, I reached out to Kelly, sent him a text and said, ‘Hey, it’s all good. It was a tough play.’ And we just move on from there.”

He’s had no choice. After the Cavs swept the Celtics, they advanced without Love and have not missed a beat. Cleveland eliminated Chicago in six games and rolled over Atlanta in four to make the finals for the first time since 2007. Love’s role has been as a spectator, watching from the bench during home games and on TV when Cleveland hit the road.

It’s been hard and humbling.

“I had really wanted this, wanted to be a part of this run,” said Love, relaxed and comfortable during his 15-minute interview. “So, it’s something that I look at as an opportunity. I think all injuries are. I’m super happy for these guys, proud of these guys. And there’s times where I’ve felt down because of my shoulder, and they’ve been here to pick me back up. And that’s kind of how it’s been the whole year.”

Love has been cleared to travel for the finals and will be with his teammates for Games 1 and 2 at Golden State, where the Cavs will have to take on the league’s best team and their rowdy fans.

• Cavs Coach David Blatt said G Kyrie Irving took part in “most parts” of practice. Irving sat out two games in the Eastern Conference finals with left knee tendinitis.

BULLS: Chicago will introduce Fred Hoiberg as their next coach no later than Wednesday, according to sources.

Hoiberg has a record of 115-56 in five seasons at Iowa State. He would replace Tom Thibodeau, the former Celtics assistant whom the Bills fired after five seasons on Thursday.