Miami Heat select Indiana’s Kel’El Ware in NBA group

MIAMI – The Miami Heat’s first personnel move of the offseason was the selection of Indiana center Kel’El Ware with the No. 15 pick in Wednesday night’s NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

After struggling to find complementary height with Bam Adebayo in the power rotation, the Heat looked for a shot-blocking presence and rim-running dunk threat who has also shown signs of an improved outside touch.

For Heat vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager Adam Simon, who oversees the team’s draft, it was a matter of the right player and the right fit for coach Erik Spoelstra.

“Kel’El is a 3-and-D center,” Simon said shortly after the conclusion of the first round, “and it’s not easy to find 7-foot players who can play offensively on the perimeter as well as play defense.” are also capable of.” Blocked his shot and defended the post. To us, that was very attractive.

“He’s going to give us versatility on both ends. And I think his skill set is a good fit for us. The things he does well are things that Coach Spo will be able to utilize. I think this is very appropriate. He’s able to block shots, protect the rim, shoot threes. He’s got a really nice touch in the post. “His skill set will be great to play with Bam, as well as when Bam is off the court.”

Ware supported Simon’s views.

“I think I’ll fit in well with the Heat, playing the fifth position to help Bam, potentially move to the fourth position with him and just be able to space the floor,” Ware said. Will be able to.”

“I feel like I can always add more to my shooting,” Ware said of his upgrade in 3-point shooting last season. There is no such thing as stopping working in this. I think I can add it to my game.

Standing 7-foot tall with a 7-5 wingspan, Ware faced questions about his motor as a sophomore at Indiana after playing his first season at Oregon. At 20 years old, it is believed that his chances of developing are better with the Heat’s recent draft picks.

In 30 games for the Hoosiers last season, Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, shooting .586 from the field, including .425 on 3-pointers.

NBA comparisons to Ware include Jarrett Allen, Miles Turner, Derek Lively III and Mo Bamba.

“I wouldn’t say I model my game after anyone, because I’m my own player,” Ware said. “There really aren’t that many people that can do what I do at 7 feet.”

As part of the rookie cap, Ware will make $4.2 million next season.

But Wednesday, he said, was this moment.

“There were a lot of emotions running high,” he said after being informed he was selected by the Heat. “Once my agent told me that was where I was going, it was like all my memories of growing up playing basketball came flashing through my mind.”

This is the third consecutive year the Heat have had a first-round pick, including Serbian forward Nikola Jovic at No. 27 in the 2022 first-round pick and UCLA wing Jaime Jaquez Jr. at No. 18 last season.

As per the rules, were the Heat to make a selection, their 2025 first-round pick would potentially go to the Oklahoma City Thunder as a lottery-protected selection. According to NBA rules, teams cannot go consecutive years without a first-round selection.

The Heat’s selection comes amid uncertainty with imminent free-agent forwards Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith set to open with NBA free agency Sunday at 6 p.m.

The Heat are also awaiting player-option decisions on Kevin Love, Josh Richardson and Thomas Bryant, which are all due Saturday.

For now, the Heat are moving forward with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Jacquez and Jovic.

The Heat are coming off a 46–36 season that saw them eliminated from the play-in round for the second consecutive year. They then advanced to the first round before losing 4–1 to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics.

Moving on from the Heat’s selections, in order, French wing Zachary Rissacher for the Atlanta Hawks, French forward Alexander Sarr for the Washington Wizards, Kentucky guard Reed Shepard for the Houston Rockets, Connecticut guard Stephan Cassel for the San Antonio Spurs, G League Were. Guard Ron Holland to the Detroit Pistons, French forward Tidjane Salaun to the Charlotte Hornets, Connecticut center Donovan Clingan to the Portland Trail Blazers, Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a trade, Purdue center Zack Eddy to the Memphis Grizzlies, Colorado wing Utah Cody Williams for the Jazz, G League forward Matas Buzelis for the Chicago Bulls, Serbian guard Nikola Topic for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Providence guard Devin Carter for the Sacramento Kings and Pittsburgh guard Bub Carrington for the Wizards.

“We weren’t sure whether Kel’El would contact us or not,” Simon said. “So we were looking at different options to potentially move forward. But when he was there, there were some options left and we thought it was a good opportunity for him to come to us. And of course we were excited by that.”

Also on the board when the Heat were selected were Miami University wing Kishawn George, Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht, Duke guard Jared McCain, Duke center Kyle Filipowski, Colorado forward Tristan Da Silva, Southern Cal guard Isaiah Collier, Baylor Center’s Yves Missy, Marquette, was left. Guard Tyler Kolek, Creighton guard Baylor Shearman, Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter, Dayton center Darron Holmes, G League forward Tyler Smith, Kansas forward Johnny Furphy, California guard Jaylon Tyson and Virginia guard Ryan Dunn, among others.

The Heat also have the No. 43 selection in the draft and the No. 13 pick in Thursday’s second round, with the process taking place in ESPN’s New York studios beginning at 4 p.m.