After an encouraging rookie season with the Heat, Kel’el Ware‘s name popped up in trade speculation this summer in connection with Miami’s pursuit of former Suns star Kevin Durant. Ultimately, the Heat decided to make Ware off limits in any potential deal for Durant, which was believed to be one key reason why Phoenix preferred Houston’s offer to Miami’s.
Ware is now determined to make good on that show of confidence from the team that drafted him, writes Anthony Chiang for the Miami Herald. The soon-to-be second-year center understands the responsibility that comes from such a decision, and is working to put himself in the best possible position to reward Miami’s belief in him.
“It made me feel the Heat wanted me and they want to see how far I can get in the future and see how my development goes,” he said. “That makes me want to show them what I can do and how far I can go. … They see the potential in me and they see what I can be. So my main goal is to just sort of repay that they didn’t make a mistake.”
Ware averaged 9.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for the Heat as a rookie after being selected with the 15th pick in the 2024 draft. After starting the season as a backup, he eventually moved into the starting lineup alongside longtime star big man Bam Adebayo and made 40 starts for the club between the regular season and playoffs. In that role, he averaged 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per night.
He has spent much of his offseason looking to add muscle and continue sharpening his skill set. Coming into the 2025 Summer League, Ware has one goal: to dominate.
“There are specifics that we’re trying to get into him,” said Heat assistant and Summer League head coach Eric Glass. “We always want to see him grow. There are leadership aspects. But he just needs to take the next step. He has all the capability in the world to go out and dominate games and practices, and that’s what we’re looking for from him.”
Ware echoed the sentiment.
“My goals for the offseason and in the summer league is to show that I added more to my game, that I’ve gotten strong in the weight room,” he said. “Just showing that I can be a force out there and be dominant.”
Ware’s Summer League will tip off on Saturday, July 5, at 3:30 pm Central time against the Spurs at this year’s California Classic. If all goes according to plan for him and the Heat, the 21-year-old will quickly become one of the annual “too good for Summer League” players and wrap up his summer well before the Las Vegas Summer League comes to a close later this month.
Good player. Imo, he showed more than Edey, Clingan and Missi to be optimistic about his future. But we’ll see, it’s still early days.
Ware is a good, not great player. If you can get a KD or a Giannis bye bye Ware.
Hey, Miami were picking midway through the first round in what was perceived as the least talented class ever, and they picked well, and got value. That’s what’s important for them.
Ware showed very good positional sense inside his own and opponents’ paint, that’s very cool and valuable. I prefer that to a big who floats and can occasionally hit a three.
He can be a part of a trade, sure. But that was not the point.
Kevin Durant is 37, he’s washed! Basketball is a young man’s game, this isn’t golf! 😆. No 35+ year old NBA player is leading any team to an NBA championship in this era.
Just as well as the Lakers have to stop relying on a 40+ year old LeBron. If the Lakers want to win a championship it has to be through Luka.
Yea, don’t be so sure they won’t dump ware if something good comes along.
I think MIA should have been willing to include him in a KD deal, but that was a close call. Not sufficient as a declaration of love to warrant appreciation. Now if MIA passes on a Giannis deal to keep him, then he should worship the organization.
If so, he better move his feet, be more active, set actual screens, learn to closeout in some capacity, and make an actual effort to at least pretend to defend near the rim, and also start knocking down shots at least…and stop looking so disinterested, with ridiculous quitter body language, like Hassan Whiteside out there, not even attempting to get up the floor…and your hands have to be better as a big, constantly dropping passes he needs to grab…and also, box someone out at some point; literally doesnt put a body on anyone, and makes little to no effort on contented rebounds
I’m still holding out hope they move him in a deal with Rozier, with all the bigs they brought in for summer league/available FAs. They could use the roster spots more than anything. At this point, it seems unlikely, but it is theor best path to some type of roster change