Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra may have just benched Kel'el Ware. After only playing five minutes in the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers, Spo elected not to start Ware during the second half. Ware did play seven minutes in that second half, but it was clear Spo was trying to shake up the rotations in search of a spark.
The Heat gained that spark momentarily, as they outscored the Lakers by 10 points in that third quarter, but ran out of gas and lost their second-straight game. Perhaps most importantly, was that second half a hint of what we could expect from Spo heading into the Heat's next game?
It's tough to tell, but there's at least a small chance that Spo will go with that lineup that started the second half heading into the team's game against the LA Clippers Monday night. If that does end up being the case, it will be a clear sign that the team is still trying to find the right role for Ware.
Kel'el Ware still hasn't found his sweet spot with the Heat
I don't think Spo was trying to send a message, per se, to Ware by "benching" him to begin the third quarter. But he clearly had a rough start to the game, and the Heat overall needed some sort of spark.
Since Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been that for much of the year, it made sense to give him a start early in the second half. It paid off, not only with a strong performance from JJJ but with the Heat also getting that spark they were looking for from Ware.
It wasn't his best performance, but he did have some bright spots during that second half for Miami.
The question is, will that be his new role moving forward? Are the Heat better off by playing small with either JJJ or Nikola Jovic in the starting 5 next to Bam, or should they keep going down this developmental path with Ware?
There is value in having Ware come off the bench, especially considering the Heat doesn't have a clear backup center on their roster at the moment. But, at the same time, who knows what that type of "demotion" does to a young player like Ware?
And, at this point, with everything that Ware is already trying to fight back against, the last thing the Heat needs is to self-impose another potential mental issue for him.
The honest truth is that we may not end up getting a clear answer to what the long-term resolution may be for Ware and the Heat until they're fully healthy. No matter what Spo's rotations look like now, the odds are that they will change once Norman Powell, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Tyler Herro are back into the full swing of things.
But change could be coming to Ware's role. And if Sunday night was any indication, his days as a starter may be numbered, if they're not already over.