Kel'el Ware was just selected to the NBA Rising Stars game, representing the Miami Heat, on All-Star weekend, where he will be joined by teammate Norman Powell, who will play in the big game. Ware is not a throw-in for the Rising Stars game, either; he's participating because he's one of the NBA's best young players.
He's also one of the top talented young players at the center position, not to mention with the Heat. That said, his season has had more ups and downs than his rookie year did, and he's having a better season by the numbers, yet he's fallen out of Miami's rotation more often than not lately.
Ware's struggle-filled season has led to some apparent tension between him and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who just two weeks ago called out the second-year center in the media for his play. He even benched Ware a couple of times, and whatever is going on with that situation, well, it's all out in the open. Which makes the trade rumors around Ware interesting. That said, he's not paying attention; Ware is trying to focus on playing basketball over what may or may not happen.
Kel'el Ware is focused on 'controlling the controllable's' and brushes off trade rumors being a distraction
With the Giannis Antetokounmpo development in Milwaukee stirring up daily hot takes and more and more rumors, the Bucks appear more willing than ever to break up with their superstar now that he's injured. The Heat have been linked to Giannis going back to last season, but this season feels a lot hotter than ever before.
Whether that means a trade for Giannis actually unfolds in Miami or not, the Heat appear to be the frontrunners, which would drastically change Miami's trajectory and expectations for years to come. That said, amid the noise and rumors, players not named Giannis Antetokounmpo are being pulled into the conversation.
Ware is one of the Heat players whose names have been tossed in the wind most recently, joining Tyler Herro's, who's been linked to trade rumors almost all season long. Ware is one of Miami's best young players, aside from Jaime Jaquez Jr., who continues to give the Heat his best every night. Ware, on the other hand, has had an up-and-down season, and his situation in South Beach may be more muddled than anyone else's, because Bam Adebayo is almost assuredly not going anywhere.
As for the trade rumors about Ware, the second-year center is doing everything he can to focus on the task at hand: playing the best basketball he can for the Heat. Of course, he's not oblivious to the noise, and he spoke about it recently, according to The Miami Herald, stating that he's now focused only on what he can control, not letting it become a distraction.
“I don’t really think it’s even much of a distraction,” Ware said. “Because, like I said, it’s not even something you can control. I mean, so I guess you could say that goes along the lines of control the controllables. I mean, if it happens, it happens. Wherever I’m at, I’m going to try to go play my best basketball.
"I feel like everybody has the same mindset with that,” Ware also said. “I mean, that’s really all it is. Control the controllables. None of us are the ones making that decision. So you’ve got to wait to see. If something happens by the deadline, it happens. If not, it doesn’t happen. We’re going to continue to try to play as a team.”
If the Bucks do intend to let Antetokounmpo go in a trade, they'll be looking for at least one solid young player in return, along with whatever draft picks are involved, and that could very well be Ware. However, if this trade doesn't happen, and Ware remains with Miami after the deadline, that could mean there is still a future for both parties.
Ware is averaging 11.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in 22 minutes per game this year. He's also adding 1.1 blocks and shooting well over 50% from the field, including over 40% from three. His numbers and production appear solid, yet he's still having trouble staying in Miami's rotation. By the end of this week, we'll know whether Ware has a role in a trade or can become a more significant part of the Heat's push for a playoff spot.