Kel'el Ware Rumors

The Heat can offer a blue-chip young talent in Kel’el Ware, who is third in the NBA in rebounds per 36 minutes at 14.7 (behind Mitchell Robinson and Andre Drummond) and second among all NBA centers in three-point shooting percentage at 41 percent, behind only Denver superstar Nikola Jokic. The Heat’s offer, according to a source, is widely expected to include Ware, Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier’s expiring contract, and another young player or more, as well as first-round picks in 2030 and 2032 and possibly first-round pick swaps in 2026, 2029 and 2031.

Miami Herald

The Heat might need to acquire another first-round pick to sweeten its offer. That can be achieved in several several ways. Among them: 1). Try to find a team that will trade a 2026 or 2027 first-round pick to Miami for Andrew Wiggins. 2). Amend the protections on the first-round pick due Charlotte. That first-rounder is lottery protected in 2027 and unprotected in 2028. If Heat waives the protections and Charlotte agrees to accept an unprotected Heat pick in 2026 or 2028, that would free up a third first-rounder to trade to the Bucks.

Miami Herald

Anthony Chiang: Spoelstra: "Kel’el gave us really solid minutes tonight. I was encouraged by his defensive activity. ... It's good to have him get some extended minutes tonight."

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“Of course, I’ve seen it,” Ware said of the trade noise while standing in front of his locker just minutes before Saturday night’s 125-118 loss to the Chicago Bulls at Kaseya Center. “My people have told me. But at the end of the day, if they make that decision, they make that decision. If not, then I’m just going to continue to go out here and play regardless.”

Miami Herald

Ware doesn’t believe his teammates are allowing the trade noise to affect them either, as a league source indicated that the Heat is among the teams aggressively pursuing a trade for Antetokounmpo before the approaching deadline. “I feel like everybody has the same mindset with that,” Ware said. “I mean, that’s really all it is. Control the controllables. None of us are the ones making that decision. So you’ve got to wait to see. If something happens by the deadline, it happens. If not, it doesn’t happen. We’re going to continue to try to play as a team.”

Miami Herald

Anthony Chiang: Kel'el Ware on Erik Spoelstra's decision to play him only three minutes tonight: "I can’t control it. I mean, it is what it is. I mean, whatever he feels like that he perceives or feels like playing, Lke I said, it is what it is.”

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Heat Central: Coach Spo on Kel'el Ware after playing just 3 minutes: "Look I know every press conference ends up being about him and I really dont want it to be that. This is not a knock on Kel'el. This game was so fast. They were playing SFs at Center. The advantage was the speed"

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Ira Winderman: Norman Powell (back) and Kel'el Ware (hamstring) upgraded to available tonight for Heat.

Twitter

Also: It is believed that Antetokounmpo — who continues to be described by numerous sources as wanting to head for the exit ramp sooner rather than later without explicitly asking for it himself — has yet to try to force his way to a particular new team or two. Which could still happen and naturally impact the week to come hugely. You've surely noted that the Heat have held back on making the best possible trade offers it could have for players such as Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant and, most recently, Ja Morant. Miami has been clinging to its most coveted draft capital for the right All-Star pursuit. And this appears to be it. The Heat's best offer is presumed to be a package headlined by Wisconsin native Tyler Herro, rising big man Ke’lel Ware and tradeable first-round picks in 2030 and 2032.

marcstein.substack.com

Ira Winderman: Heat say Davion Mitchell (shoulder) is out and Kel'el Ware (hamstring) is available for tonight's game against visiting Magic. Norman Powell (back) also is available.

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Miami HEAT: #ORLvsMIA INJURY UPDATE: Tyler Herro (ribs) have been ruled out of tonight's game vs the Magic. Davion Mitchell (shoulder) and Kel'el Ware (hamstring) are both listed as questionable.

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Ira Winderman: Kel'el Ware (hamstring), Davion Mitchell (shoulder) and Norman Powell (back) all questionable Wednesday for Heat vs. visiting Magic. Herro (ribs) out.

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Anthony Chiang: Erik Spoelstra said Davion Mitchell (shoulder) and Tyler Herro (ribs) did not practice today. But Kel’el Ware (hamstring) did practice.

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NBA Communications: The 2026 Castrol Rising Stars ⬇️ Tune in to @peacock tomorrow at 7 PM ET to watch honorary coaches Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter draft their teams from the pool of 21 NBA sophomores and rookies. Austin Rivers will serve as the honorary coach of the @nbagleague team.

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