Kel'El

Ware

Ware logged just six minutes in Miami’s season opener, so his availability won’t have an impact on fantasy hoops managers’ lineup decisions.

Not only was Ware one of the best-performing rookies at the NBA 2K25 Summer League, but he was one of the best players overall. The first-round pick was named first-team All-Summer League before Monday’s championship game, and Ware posted another double-double in the overtime victory. Ware’s fantasy potential this season will depend on how much Erik Spoelstra is willing to play him alongside Bam Adebayo. The former Indiana standout can step away from the basket, but can he do it well enough to avoid negatively impacting Miami’s offensive spacing? Regardless of the answer, Ware is a rookie who needs to be selected in all drafts.

Ware’s comfort level has improved by the game, and he has been one of the best rookies in Las Vegas. The 15th overall pick in last month’s draft recorded a second consecutive double-double, and he is up to seven blocked shots in three games. The talent level at summer league is not on par with what Ware will experience in October. But the rebounding, shot blocking, and motor are attributes that should translate. Even though Ware is likely to come off the bench, he’s a rookie worth selecting in standard league drafts.

Ware has played hard throughout his summer with the Heat, providing precisely what the team hoped to receive when selecting the former Indiana center with the 15th overall pick. He recorded another double-double on Monday, his second of the summer, while also producing a full stat line. Bam Adebayo being in the lineup likely prohibits Ware from being a starter, but there will be times when the two bigs share the court. Ware’s perimeter shooting ability in those spots will help the Heat spacing-wise.

Ware wasn’t as productive on the boards as he was at the California Classic to begin the week, but the first-round pick remained impactful. This week, he’s played with a consistently high motor, which was the big question during the pre-draft process. Ware was effective as a shot blocker on Saturday, and he also stepped away from the basket and hit a 3-pointer. Moving forward, will there be a point during the regular season when Erik Spoelstra plays Ware and Bam Adebayo together? If so, that would boost the rookie center’s fantasy value.

After blocking five shots in his summer league debut on Saturday, Ware showed off the full offensive game on Sunday. In addition to improved finishing in the paint, he displayed the ability to hit shots in the mid-range, going on to lead all scorers with 26 points. Rebounding and shot-blocking is where the rookie’s bread will be buttered this season, and Ware has been productive in those areas thus far. He isn’t going to pass Bam Adebayo in the pecking order, but the backup center job should be Ware’s this fall/winter.

Robinson was once seen as the next undrafted player to become a solid player in Miami. However, after they drafted Kel’el Ware in the first round last month, Robinson was bumped down the depth chart. He may be able to find a different team to take a chance on him, but his time in Miami is over.

Saturday’s summer league debut was brutal for the Heat, but team decision-makers had to be encouraged by what they saw from Ware defensively. The first-round pick blocked five shots and changed a few more in his first action in a Heat uniform. With Bam Adebayo firmly entrenched as the starting center, Ware’s defensive ability is what will get him on the court early as a rookie. He’s a player worth tracking in California and Las Vegas, especially if the blocked shot production remains constant.

After only playing 15.8 minutes per game as a freshman at Oregon, Ware transferred to Indiana, where he enjoyed a breakout season. He averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 blocks in 32.1 minutes per game and brought home multiple Big Ten honors. The 7-footer didn’t shoot threes at a high volume, but he knocked down 42.5% of his 3-pointers while shooting 1.3 per game. If he continues to develop as a shooter, he has the makings of an elite fantasy center that can provide both 3-pointers and blocks without sacrificing rebounding production. He moves well for a center, and he was a lob threat in college, which is always a useful trait to NBA teams. Miami is notoriously weak at center behind Bam Adebayo, so Ware could see some meaningful minutes in his inaugural campaign.