Kel'el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat
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Kel'el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat
After coming back from a hamstring problem, Miami Heat second-year center Kel’el Ware has logged a grand total of 19 minutes in two games. He continues to be a baffling player for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who recognizes the obvious raw talent Ware has as a 7-footer who can shoot and protect the rim, but can’t seem to find a way to make Ware work alongside star big man Bam Adebayo.
Ware is just 21 and is in his second year after he was the No. 15 pick out of Indiana in 2024. He is averaging 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, making 42.2% of his 3-point shots with 1.1 blocks, but he plays only 23.2 minutes per game. Spoelstra called out Ware publicly earlier in the month, before walking the comments back.
The reason is plain–the Heat are better when Ware does not play. Per Basketball-Reference.com, the team’s offensive rating is 113.0 when he is on the floor, and 117.6 when he is off. Defensively, the Heat have a 117.0 rating when Ware is playing but 111.1 when he is off. The net difference of minus-10.4 points is whopping.
Erik Spoelstra Talking Up Kel’el Ware
Yet, despite the fact that Ware has played so sparingly lately for the Miami Heat, Spoelstra was talking about him again, and doing so glowingly. That has raised some eyebrows around the NBA as the league’s trade deadline inches ever closer.
Said Spoelstra: “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. And I’m invigorated by the challenge of developing a young big like him.
“I look back at where he was last year at this time and where he is now, I think he’s markedly improved not only in his approach but his work ethic, his professionalism and his game.”
Miami Heat Pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo Blockbuster
Sounds a bit like Spoelstra is a car salesman trying to drum up interest in a lightly used Miami Heat big man. As the Heat pursue a blockbuster trade for Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo–a deal they would very much like to pull off before the February 5 trade deadline–Ware has become a critical piece, perhaps the highest-upside young player the Bucks will be offered this week.
“It is hard because they are obviously frustrated with the kid,” one NBA executive said. “So how do you turn around and say, ‘Forget everything that we said, forget that we’re not playing him, he’s the best young guy you’re gonna get!’ I don’t think Milwaukee is buying all that, but it’s what you’ve got to do.
“And they’ve got to play him. Show you trust him, that goes a lot further than saying you trust him.”
So Spoelstra task on Ware is not quite complete. The Heat can offer the Bucks a solid choice of draft picks and young talent to go along with salary relief in a deal for Antetokounmpo. But Ware is their best piece, as long as Milwaukee agrees.