The Miami Heat are positioning second-year big man Kel'el Ware to secure his future as the franchise center. It's a decision that's come in phases, including the mid-season move to introduce Ware to the starting lineup and move Bam Adebayo to power forward.
If Ware is going to justify the investment and realize his potential, then there's a simple task ahead of him: Improve his consistency—and an NBA Draft guru has outlined exactly how that can be done.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic recently published a 2024 NBA Re-Draft. In it, Ware was listed at No. 10 overall—up five spots from where Miami actually selected him. It was early confirmation of what Heat fans are well aware of: He was an absolute steal of a pick.
Vecenie challenged Ware, however, to address his inconsistencies, particularly on the defensive end of the floor.
"I tend to over-index on big men doing the non-negotiables at the center position, and right now Ware doesn’t do them. That’s why he came in at No. 10. I did not think he was a particularly good defender positionally last year."
Vecenie continued, acknowledging Ware's strength as a screener but requesting that he improve his execution when he isn't the finisher.
"Additionally, while part of the appeal of Ware is certainly that ability to leave a screen early and slip to the rim to beat a help defender to a lob, he needs to keep working on his overall screening ability."
Vecenie's final note may be the most important of all: Erik Spoelstra is the perfect head coach to help Ware rectify those issues.
"The good news is that he landed in the perfect spot, as the Heat are very detail-oriented and sharp developmentally."
Vecenie offered a glowing review of Ware's unique athletic abilities and impressive production, all the while saying what Heat fans know all too well: The key will be consistency.
Sam Vecenie praises Kel'el Ware, challenges him to address inconsistency
It's inevitable that a first-year player will have flaws that need to be addressed in order for them to realize their potential. Bouts of inconsistency can arise for a variety of reasons, including players' need to adapt to the pace and physicality of the NBA game.
As such, any criticism of Ware's current quality of play is based in the knowledge that he was destined to encounter early hurdles—and, thus, it's meant in a constructive manner.
That established, Ware's flashes of star potential were at times overshadowed by fundamental issues with his game. He's sensational at making the big play, including highlight-reel dunks, jump shots, and blocks that will send home crowds into a frenzy and road viewers into silence.
What the Heat need from Ware in 2025-26 and beyond, however, is reliability in the moments that aren't necessarily going to jump off the screen.
Vecenie points out that Ware needs to set more engaged screens when rolling or popping out to the perimeter aren't the result of said actions. He also speaks to the need for a stronger sense of reliability on defense, which can be seen in his positioning and tendency to watch the ball.
Despite the room for improvement, Vecenie's primary point on the Ware front was simple when he made him a top-10 pick in the Re-Draft: The talent and upside he possesses are undeniable.
Kel'el Ware has room for improvement, but his upside is absurd
Ware finished his rookie season averaging 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 offensive boards, 1.1 blocks, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 three-point field goals made in 22.2 minutes per game. That translates to 15.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.9 offensive boards, 1.8 blocks, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
A defensive playmaker and nightly threat to go off for a double-double, Ware has the tools to become a dynamic talent on both ends of the floor.
That much was further established once Ware entered the starting lineup. He averaged 10.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 28.4 minutes per game as a starter, as well as 16.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks when he played at least 30 minutes.
The Heat certainly benefited from his presence, as they went 8-4 over his final 12 starts and were 2.5 points per 100 possessions better when he was on the court for the season.
Furthermore, the Heat ranked in the 74th percentile in net rating and the 84th percentile in defensive rating when Adebayo and Ware were on the court together. It was proof positive that a big-heavy lineup can work despite their limited opportunities to develop chemistry.
Ware still needs to become more consistent in the areas that don't show up in the box score, but the Heat have a captivating talent on their hands.