Kel'el Ware NBA Draft Scouting Report: Pro Comparison, Updated Heat Roster
June 27, 2024
The Miami Heat have bolstered their center depth with the addition of Kel'el Ware, a 7-foot big man who established himself as one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten during his breakout sophomore season at Indiana.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Kel'el Ware
Position: C
Height: 7'0"
Pro Comparison: Jarrett Allen
Scouting Report: Kel'el Ware erased some of the concerns over his soft and low-motor reputation by putting up big numbers at Indiana using his finishing tools and shotmaking touch. The upside tied to his 7'0" size, athleticism and offensive skill level will have teams and coaches willing to look past some early concerns over his toughness and fluctuating impact.
Jimmy Butler, SF: $48.8M (2026)
Bam Adebayo, C: $34.8M (2029; Intends to sign three-year, $166 million extension, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium)
Tyler Herro, SG: $29M (2027)
Terry Rozier, PG: $24.9M (2026)
Duncan Robinson, SF: $19.4M (2026)
Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF: $3.7M (2026)
Nikola Jovic, SF: $2.4M (2026)
Orlando Robinson, C: $2.1M (2025)
Kel'el Ware, C: Rookie scale contract
Caleb Martin, SF: Player option
Kevin Love, C: Player option
Josh Richardson, SG: Player option
Thomas Bryant, C: Player option
Haywood Highsmith, F: UFA
Delon Wright, PG: UFA
Patty Mills, PG: UFA
Jamal Cain, SF: RFA
Cole Swider, F: RFA
Drew Peterson, F: RFA
Alondes Williams, G: RFA
Ware's sophomore season breakout was sparked by a transfer from Oregon to Indiana, where he went from being a Pac-12 reserve to a Big Ten starter.
The big man averaged a team-high 15.9 points and 1.9 blocks per game as he helped the Hoosiers reach the conference quarterfinals.
He also ranked second in the Big Ten and led the team with 9.9 rebounds per game, including a season-high 17 rebounds during a January loss to Rutgers.
Ware additionally led the Hoosiers by making 58.6 percent of his shots from the field, while shooting 42.5 from deep on 1.3 three-point attempts per game.
He was one of two men's conference players to record fifteen double-doubles, including a 27-point, 11-rebound, five-block effort against Wisconsin in February.
Ware scored eight points in Indiana's conference quarterfinal loss to Nebraska. He also averaged eight points in two contests against Purdue.
These struggles against elite competition, combined with Ware's limited three-point shooting and 63.4 percent shooting rate from the foul line, raised some concerns.
He helped erase those worries at the 2024 NBA Scouting Combine, where he ranked in the top five of all 78 draft prospects with his height, wingspan and standing reach.
Ware was projected as a first-round pick by Wasserman due to his "measurements, athleticism and comfort level shooting threes."
The Heat will now likely target Ware's shooting as they work to develop him into an NBA-caliber big.
