On this week’s Heat Check: How can the addition of Norman Powell help the Miami Heat? Also, what are some Heat things to watch for in Las Vegas? By Pierre Taylor
The fact that the Miami Heat made center Kel’el Ware off-limits in trade discussions with the Phoenix Suns for 15-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant earlier this offseason is proof that the organization believes in his potential.
But now the Heat wants to see the 21-year-old Ware develop the approach and professionalism necessary to reach his full potential. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra made that point loud and clear during a session with reporters on Saturday following the team’s summer league practice in Las Vegas.
“A big part of this is he has to really embrace and improve his professionalism, his consistency, his approach every single day,” Spoelstra said sternly. “He has to get better with that. It’s learning how to become a pro. I understand that he was 20 last year and he’s 21. But we have bigger expectations. It’s not your normal growth and growing pains of a young player learning how to become a pro. But that’s what this summer is about. Learning how to become a pro, learning how to be consistent every single day.
“The talent is there. The professionalism and consistency has to improve, and it is. Our standards are not going to change and our expectations and how fast we want that to improve for him are not going to change. But he has to get better at it, he has to take ownership of it.”
After finishing last season as the Heat’s starting center and establishing himself as one of the league’s top rookies on his way to earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, expectations were high for Ware entering his second summer league.
But Ware has been underwhelming through his first three summer league appearances, averaging 12 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 13 of 33 (39.4 percent) from the field and 1 of 10 (10 percent) from three-point range in those games.
Ware closed the Heat’s 105-98 loss to the Atlanta Hawks to begin Las Vegas Summer League on Friday with a team-worst plus/minus of minus 21.
“I mean, I’m a young player still,” Ware said Saturday when asked how he takes Spoelstra’s comment. “Getting into it, learning more about it and it’s all good.”
Ware, who was taken by the Heat with the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft, seemed to be on the right track last season.
As a rookie, Ware earned consistent minutes and then was promoted to a starting role in January after logging double-digit minutes in just two of the Heat’s first 25 games last regular season. The 7-foot Ware started next to the 6-foot-9 Bam Adebayo to form a double-big lineup for the final three months of the season.
After being moved into a full-time starting role, Ware averaged 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 54.4% from the field and 21 of 76 (27.6%) on threes during his final 38 regular-season appearances last season. That midseason push was enough for Ware to end the season as one of the league’s best rookies, finishing just one spot away from making the All-Rookie First Team as the top vote-getter on the second team.
But Ware’s first NBA playoff experience was rough While the Heat was being swept out of the first round of the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers last season, Ware produced a total of just 19 pounds, 19 rebounds and two blocks in 73 minutes during the four-game series while being relentlessly targeted on the defensive end in pick-and-rolls.
Spoelstra believes a more professional approach will translate into improved on-court results for Ware.
“The other stuff will come along with that,” Spoelstra said. “That leads into the weight room — your professionalism, your consistency, your approach every single day. He’s getting stronger, he is gaining weight. That’s a big part of his improvement is getting his body physically prepared and ready to handle the rigors of a physical position. Then there’s the nuances of doing things defensively and playing stronger with more force offensively.
“We’re working on those things every single day. [Heat assistant coach Malik Allen], I think, is the best big man coach and mentor in the league. And they’re spending a lot of time hitting, pounding, lower, stronger, more physical.”
With Ware expected to get a few more summer league game opportunities this year, what does he want to accomplish?
“Come out here, still get some run in with these guys and being able to showcase that I have more to me,” Ware said, with the Heat set to play its second of at least five Las Vegas Summer League games on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 p.m., NBA TV).
After Saturday’s practice in Las Vegas, former Heat captain and current Heat executive Udonis Haslem battled Ware in the post during drills.
“It’s the same as last year,” Ware said of Haslem’s mentorship. “He was around all the time. So it’s pretty much the same stuff with him. Come out here, teaching me things, telling me things that he’s learned over the years.”
Ware knows “I got to do better with definitely boxing out, a little bit more defensive end and just finishing the ball” than what he has shown so far in summer league.
The Heat believes it all starts with Ware developing a more professional approach, as he prepares for his second NBA season.
“We feel like also giving him the structure to grow and embrace becoming a pro, learning how to be a professional every single day,” Spoelstra said. “Being early, having a great energy and accountancy every day. How you do anything is how you do everything. He’s taking some steps, but he’s got to get better. He has to get better with the professionalism.”