The Miami Heat found positive value when they nabbed Kel'el Ware with the No. 15 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft.
That value proposition has shifted now. It's not that Ware suddenly lost his value, but rather the Heat just made it crystal clear how critical they feel he is to their core. Or at least the perception is that they will have shown that if they fail to broker a blockbuster trade for 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant.
That's because Miami's ability to land Durant—a true whale of a target if Pat Riley ever saw one—might boil down to whether Ware is involved in the trade or not. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported, "Miami's ultimate willingness to surrender Kel'el Ware, given the Suns' noted hole at center, could be the true swing factor in Miami's KD pursuit."
So, should Durant wind up anywhere other than South Florida, it will seem as if the Heat effectively handled Ware as an untouchable, a remarkably significant status for a 21-year-old who averaged 22.2 minutes and single-digit everything else in his first NBA go-round. The pressure, then, will radically ramp up on Ware to not only develop into a star but perhaps to ascend to that height as soon as next season.
The hype for Ware's sophomore season could get out of hand in a hurry
There's a reason the Heat are reluctant—if not wholly unwilling—to let go of Ware. While it'd be a stretch to label him a cornerstone talent already, he clearly appears to be the most encouraging member of their young core.
Once head coach Erik Spoelstra finally entrusted him with a starting spot halfway through this past season, Ware consistently made the most of his chances. He averaged a double-double (10.8 points and 10 rebounds) and better than a block per game (1.3) in his 36 starts. And during the 16 games in which his floor time reached 30-plus minutes, those per-game marks jumped to 16.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks.
Moreover, Ware flashed the exact kind of skill set all modern NBA teams should covet from their center spot. He protected the paint, consistently converted scoring chances around the rim, and had the ability to step away and fire from three. It wasn't unlike the kind of massive two-way impact Myles Turner has had on the Indiana Pacers during their run to the NBA Finals.
None of this, of course, guarantees stardom for Ware—not next season, maybe not ever. For those into the Turner comparison, that's an accolade he has never earned.
It does, however, suggest he could have a long, highly productive NBA career in front of him. You get why the Heat would want to hold onto him, especially when a megadeal for Durant might not be in their best interest.
The fact that Ware's name has popped up in such a pursuit is a good thing. It means teams are taking notice of what he brings and believing that he'll bring more in the future.
Miami clearly shares that belief. Fans should, too, provided they don't go overboard with it.
It's not outlandish for the Heat to decide they'd rather have a promising 21-year-old center than a 37-year-old forward with injury issues and locker-room changes in his past and contract uncertainty in front of him. It would be outlandish, though, for folks to expect Ware to have the same kind of impact as Durant during the upcoming season.