Rookie Preview: How Does Kel’el Ware Fit with the Miami Heat?
Kel’el Ware was one of the highest rated basketball recruits in the high school class of 2022. After an inconsistent freshman year at the University of Oregon, Ware transferred to Indiana University for his sophomore year. He flourished at IU, averaging 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, while shooting 42.5% from three. After a stellar combine, I had Ware slotted as a top 5 prospect in the 2024 draft class. The Miami Heat selected Ware with the 15th overall pick of the draft. I believe this was the steal of the draft, based on his skillset and fit with the team.
Ware has the frame and athleticism to thrive as a big man in the NBA. At the combine, he measured in at 6’11.75” barefoot along with a 7’4.5” wingspan, both ranking top 5 in the class. Among centers, Ware had the 2nd fastest shuttle run, 3rd highest standing vertical (32.5”), and 6th highest max vertical (36.0”). Factoring in both his measurements and athletics scores, Nick Kalinowski claims Ware is the first center prospect to have a “perfect combine score” of 100.0.
His athleticism is evident when you watch him defend. In the clips below, you can see the type of blocks he is capable of. On some plays, he may not get a block in the stat sheet but his presence alone throws off the timing of offensive players. He showcases the ability to move his feet and contest shots when guarding in space. This is key for young big men in the NBA, especially with how much teams use drop-coverage when guarding ball screens. If opposing teams know that you have a hard time moving your feet, they will attempt to play you off the floor by putting you in actions that force you to guard in space. Wares mobility and length should help him hold his own in these scenarios. It also helps that he will be able to learn from and play alongside Bam Adebayo, who is one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA .
I am a fan of the Adebayo and Ware frontcourt tandem long-term, as their skills complement each other well on both ends. On defense, the Heat ask a lot out of Adebayo. They consistently play smaller lineups, which leads to Bam having to guard the best centers in the league, while also bearing most of the rim protecting responsibility. With Ware being added to the fold, Adebayo will have less of a rim protecting burden, as Ware has great size and shot-blocking instincts to play the 5.
When they play on the court at the same time, Bam will most likely be guarding opposing teams power forwards, which he has shown that he can do at a high level. Bam’s switchability should let Ware stick to what he does best on defense, which is roaming around the rim and protecting the paint. Their size, athleticism, and rim protecting will make it hard for opposing teams to score in the paint, especially once Ware gets accustomed to playing NBA defense. Ware will also bring needed help in the rebounding department, as the Heat ranked bottom 5 in rebounds per game last season. Wares’ defensive rebound percentage of 26.1% last season ranks 4th among players taken in this years NBA Draft. He ranks higher than other center prospects such as Donovan Clingan, Zach Edey, and Daron Holmes ll in this stat. Here are some clips of him high-pointing rebounds on both ends.
Ware’s offensive tools fit the modern NBA. Coming into the league, he will be able to catch lobs and roll hard to the rim for easy baskets. He has also displayed good touch on close shots like floaters, push shots, and mid-range jumpers. He shot 54/122 (44.3%) on far 2’s and 117/158 (74.1%) on close 2’s last season. Bam has thrived off shots in the mid to close range area with the Heat, specifically coming off short rolls. Ware can take notes from Bam in this aspect while learning to create offense in Miami's offensive scheme. Here are some clips of Ware showcasing his finishing ability and mid-range touch.
My favorite aspect of Ware's offensive game is his long-range shooting potential. Ware shot 17/40 on threes last season. 40 threes isn't a ton of volume, but his shooting stroke is smooth and his willingness to shoot from distance is a positive. Many have claimed that other centers in this class like Donovan Clingan and Zach Edey have potential to stretch the floor, but Ware was actually shooting threes and hitting at a high percentage. His mechanics and confidence to shoot jumpers make me think he will be a valuable floor stretching center in the NBA down the road.
Wares’ archetype is coveted in today's nba. The top 3 offenses during the 2023-2024 NBA regular season based on offensive rating were the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and OKC Thunder. Each of these teams had a center that was at least 7’0” tall, shot over 35% from three point range, and blocked at least 1.9 shots per game. These players were Kristaps Porziņģis, Myles Turner, and Chet Holmgren. The Boston Celtics had the most wins in the league and won the NBA Championship after facing off against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. In Chet Holmgren’s first NBA season, the Thunder led the Western Conference in regular season wins.
It’s not a coincidence that three of the best teams in the NBA have centers with similar skill sets. On offense, it helps a tremendous amount to have a 5 man that can shoot for many reasons. NBA teams are always trying to find ways to get opposing teams’ rim protectors out of the paint. If your center can shoot from deep, the opposing team's center (and usually best rim protector) is forced to guard out to the perimeter, which leads to easier scoring opportunities in the paint for the offense. This is especially effective if all five of the offense's players can shoot, as the defense can't stick their rim protector on a non-shooter to “roam.”
In the past, playing a traditional “stretch big-man” often meant that you had to give up some defense and rim protection, as big men weren’t as versatile. Nowadays, players like Porziņģis, Turner, and Holmgren can both shoot threes and change the game on defense with their rim protection. With how much NBA teams value both spacing and rim protection, prospects like Kel’el Ware are invaluable in my eyes. On top of the fact that Ware has these traits, his athleticism makes me think he has untapped potential that the Heat could unlock. Questions about his “motor” and physicality aren’t enough to scare me away from his high ceiling. Although the pick may not reap instant rewards, I love Wares’ fit next to Bam Adebayo in the long-term, and the Heat betting on Wares’ upside was my favorite move of the 2024 NBA draft.
