The Miami Heat have drafted Kel’el Ware, a center out of Indiana, with the 15th pick in Wednesday's NBA draft.
Ware is a versatile big man who stands at 7 feet and weighs 230 pounds. Ware has a long 7-foot-4.5 foot wingspan which allows him to further utilize his length and size. The former Hoosier fills a gap the Heat have shown a need for the past couple of seasons.
Pairing another true center with Bam Adebayo could be a great decision for the Heat. Miami has consistently been exposed in the playoffs by opposing teams with size advantages, such as the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets. Ware along with Bam in the paint should limit these disadvantages.
Ware averaged 15.9 PPG at Indiana, along with 9.9 RPG, and 1.9 BPG.
Here are three player comparisons for Ke’lel Ware, two best-case scenario comparisons, and one worst-case scenario.
Best case scenario: Chris Bosh
It would be the absolute best-case scenario if Kel’el Ware turns out to provide similar contributions to Miami Heat legend, Chris Bosh. Ware is similar to Bosh in size. Bosh stood at 6-foot-11 and weighed 235 pounds. He also had a similar skill set. Both players utilize their length when it comes to posting up in the paint or shooting the ball.
One of Bosh’s notable advantages was his high shot release, which made it extremely difficult for opponents to contest, and Ware does the same. Both have a good three-point shot and mid-range. Ware shot 42.5% from downtown while at Indiana, and Bosh shot 47% during his college tenure at Georgia Tech.
I think that Ware certainly has the potential to pan out and be a legit asset for the Miami Heat. However, I do not see him matching the status of Chris Bosh. While they do have similar skill sets, Ware does lack one key area of his game where Bosh excelled. Physicality and grit. That was the biggest knock against Ware in the predraft process. This could very well change.
The Heat do a great job at maximizing their players' potential and they could bring out the best in Ware. If they can develop his mental and physical toughness and Ware delivers on his high-upside potential, we could have the next Chris Bosh on our hands.