Kel'el Ware, Miami Heat
Getty
Kel'el Ware, Miami Heat
As the Miami Heat navigate escalating trade discussions ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, second-year center Kel’el Ware is under no illusions about his place in the conversation.
Ware acknowledged over the weekend that he is fully aware he could be included in a potential blockbuster package for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP whose availability has reshaped the league’s trade market.
“Of course, I’ve seen it,” Ware told the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang before Saturday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls. “My people have told me. But at the end of the day, if they make that decision, they make that decision. If not, then I’m just going to continue to go out here and play regardless.”
Heat Rotation Questions Surface Amid Trade Noise
Ware’s comments followed an unusual outing in Miami’s 125–118 loss to the Bulls on Saturday. The 21-year-old played just three minutes in the first quarter and did not return, as coach Erik Spoelstra opted to deploy Nikola Jovic as the backup center.
Ware said he was not given a specific explanation for the abbreviated stint. Spoelstra later defended the decision, emphasizing game flow rather than trade considerations.
“This is not a knock on Kel’el,” Spoelstra said postgame. “This game was so fast. They were playing small forwards at center. The advantage was the speed.”
A Polarizing Prospect Gains Momentum
Ware’s fluctuating role has only amplified the spotlight on a player who has already become a lightning rod within Miami’s fan base.
The 7-footer slid to No. 15 in the 2024 NBA Draft after pre-draft evaluations raised concerns about his motor and consistency during a turbulent freshman season at Oregon.
“Most pre-draft scouting reports on Ware questioned his effort and focus,” Chiang wrote at the time, noting that then-Ducks coach Dana Altman had publicly challenged Ware to play harder.
Heat vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager Adam Simon pushed back on that narrative, calling it an oversimplification.
“We did a lot of background on him,” Simon said. “Everybody says he’s a willing worker and he wants to get better.”
Statement Game Reinforces Ware’s Value
One night after his limited appearance, Ware delivered a timely response.
In Sunday’s 134–91 rout of the Bulls, Ware reclaimed his role as the primary backup to Bam Adebayo and finished with 17 points in 18 minutes, shooting 8-of-15 from the field while adding six rebounds.
The performance reinforced why Ware has become central to Miami’s trade calculus.
Why Ware Fits Milwaukee’s Blueprint
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Milwaukee’s demands in any Antetokounmpo deal are straightforward.
“The Bucks have been looking for a young blue-chip player and a surplus of draft picks,” Charania said on SportsCenter. “The Warriors have a pick-heavy offer. The Timberwolves have a player-centric offer. Miami and New York are somewhere in between — players and some picks.”
Ware fits that description better than any other young player on Miami’s roster.
He is shooting 41% from three-point range, while averaging 11.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in just 22.6 minutes per game. His per-36-minute numbers — 18.1 points, 14.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals — highlight a ceiling that continues to intrigue rival front offices.
Heat’s Reported Giannis Offer Comes Into Focus
According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, Ware is a cornerstone of Miami’s proposal.
“The Heat’s offer, according to a source, is widely expected to include Ware, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier’s expiring contract, and another young player or more,” Jackson reported, “along with first-round picks in 2030 and 2032 and possibly pick swaps in 2026, 2029, and 2031.”
If such a deal were completed, Miami would still retain a competitive core around Antetokounmpo, including Adebayo, third-year wing Jaime Jaquez Jr. and first-time All-Star Norman Powell.
Why Miami Held Ware — Until Now
Notably, the Heat declined to include Ware in last summer’s pursuit of Kevin Durant, preserving him precisely for a potential Antetokounmpo scenario.
Now that moment has arrived.
As the deadline approaches, Miami appears willing to part with its most promising young big in pursuit of a generational star — and Ware, fully aware of the stakes, continues to play his way into the center of the NBA’s most consequential trade talks.