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Kel'el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat
There’s no question that the Miami Heat have their issues with second-year big man Kel’el Ware, the No. 15 pick in the 2024 draft. But there’s also no question that they’re not surprised to be at this point with Ware, because part of the rap on him coming out of college was that his work ethic and practice approach were unsteady. Ware probably would not have been available to the Heat on the fringe of the lottery if reports on his work ethic had been spotless.
They weren’t. Thus, the Heat have not been surprised that Ware has meandered in recent weeks after his strong stretch in late December and early January, during which he started 11 games, shot 57.4% from the field, made 45.8% of his 3-pointers and averaged 15.2 points and 11.5 rebounds.
Ware was removed from the starting lineup on January 10, and has averaged 15.3 minutes since (he missed the Heat’s last game with a hamstring injury). Coach Erik Spoelstra criticized Ware publicly, and was blunt enough that he later apologized. Still, all of that has led to speculation that Ware could be included in trade deadline packages as Miami looks to bolster its roster before February 5 passes.
Kel’el Ware ‘Is Not Available’ in Trades
But that’s just not going to happen, one NBA executive said, not unless the Heat, “have Giannis (Antetokounmpo) on the table.” It remains a longshot that the Bucks will put Antetokounmpo on the trade market, and as long as that is the case, Miami is not trading Ware.
“That’s the wisdom, he is not available, they already made that decision,” the executive said. “They like their young guys, they’re going to play them but they are going to be tough with them, too, that’s how they’ve always handled these things. Most teams, they want their first-round picks on the floor come hell or high water but Spoelstra has more leeway with how he uses the young guys.
“He is going to hold them to the same standard as everyone else. But with the Heat, a few games on the bench does not mean this player or that player is getting traded.”
Erik Spoelstra
GettyMiami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra clarified his comments about Kel’el Ware to the media.
Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra Walked Back Criticism
Ware has improved for the Miami Heat this season, as he is averaging 11.6 points and 9.8 rebounds. while shooting 54.0% from the field and 41.5% from the 3-point line. But the Heat want him to sharpen his elbows, to play a bit tougher on the boards and on defense. They want him to keep his conditioning at the top of the charts, too.
After saying that Ware was “stacking days in the wrong direction” and implying that Ware was asking for minutes he did not deserve, Spoelstra backtracked this week.
“I didn’t articulate that in a great way and that wasn’t fair to Kel’el,” Spoelstra said. “I wasn’t even frustrated. So what I’ll say is I’m fully invested in and invigorated about the opportunity to develop Kel’el, and our staff feels the same way.
“We’re going to give him everything we have to make sure he becomes the player that he wants to become, that we need him to become.”