The 2026 trade deadline was a quiet one for the New Orleans Pelicans, as the front office made just one move. Their next opportunity to shake up the roster will come in the offseason. So why not highlight the perfect trade target for the Pelicans this summer? Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware.
The 21-year-old second-year big has shown flashes as a floor-spacing, rim-protecting threat at 7-foot, averaging 11.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 39.7 percent from three. Despite those impressive averages, over time, it's become clear that his relationship with head coach Erik Spoelstra could ultimately make his time in Miami short-lived.
Ware addresses several flaws with one trade
All season long, Spo has repeatedly criticized Ware in the media and has backed up those criticisms with fluctuating minutes. Some nights, Ware is out there thriving and gets nearly 30 minutes—other nights, he logs below 10, or sometimes he is benched for an entire second half.
The most concerning game for Ware was against the Celtics on January 15th, when the Heat blew a 19-point lead and lost to Boston 119-114.
He logged less than 9 minutes in this game, shot 1/5 from the field, and, when Spo was asked about it post-game, he said something along the lines of Wareis stacking up too many bad days in a row. This led to Ware being thrown in trade rumors as part of a potential package for Giannis Antetokounmpo. But what if the Heat miss out on Giannis? Could they pivot to a different bruising physical power forward? Someone like Zion Williamson?
That's where the Pelicans can come in. If New Orleans does finally look to shop Williamson this summer, getting Ware as part of the package for the two-time All-Star is a must.
Sure, everything mentioned about Ware’s situation in Miami makes him sound like a risk, especially with lingering questions about consistency and motor. But at the same time, the Pelicans have two major problems: Size and floor spacing. Ware would help address both of those flaws with one move. The Pelicans rank fourth-worst in three-pointers made per game and also give up the second-most offensive rebounds per game.
A huge reason for both of these problems is the undersized front court of 6-foot-6 Williamson and 6-foot-9 Derik Queen. As with these two in the paint, other teams are routinely outmatching the Pelicans size-wise, and things only get worse when you factor in that neither player is making a combined 0.3 threes a game.
Swapping Williamson in a deal for Ware and some form of salary filler would instantly change things, as the Pelicans would have a much bigger front court of 6-foot-9 and 7-foot. It would also address the spacing issues and provide New Orleans with a long-term center that better aligns with the Jeremiah Fears and Queen timeline.
If there are doubts about how Ware could factor in with the Pelicans, just revisit the 28-point, 19-rebound performance he had against the Knicks in December. That outing was a reminder of exactly why he could solve multiple issues in New Orleans with one move.