Kel'el Ware Rumors

Anthony Chiang: Dwyane Wade spoke about Kel'el Ware on the latest episode of his show, "Time Out with Dwyane Wade": "If you want to listen to anybody, you listen to Spo. If young fella wants to be great, buy in. Buy into what they’re selling."

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Ware has done that since Spoelstra called him out, totaling 20 paint points and 24 rebounds over his last two summer league games. He contributed 22 paint points and 16 rebounds in his first three summer league appearances. “It’s just something that I got to bring every day and like I said, ‘I will,’” Ware made clear.

Miami Herald

Ware closed last season as the Heat’s starting center, establishing himself as one of the league’s top rookies on his way to earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. “When I do it, it’s more of a presence that’s being felt out there,” said Ware, who was taken by the Heat with the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft. “I just got to bring it, that’s it. Plain and simple.”

Miami Herald

And, yes, Ware took stock of Spoelstra’s admonishment. “I mean,” Ware said, “it all comes down to like Spo said, just putting in the effort, going out there and playing. That’s just what I wanted to show that I can do. “I just took it as motivation. Obviously, he’s the coach and he has that trust in me and he wants to see me be the best that I can be. So I took it as motivation.”

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Anthony Chiang: Erik Spoelstra says Kel’el Ware needs to continue to improve his “professionalism.” “The talent is there,” Spoelstra added.

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Ira Winderman: Kel'el Ware getting the night off tonight for the Heat at summer league in San Francisco. Heat vs. Warriors at 7 p.m. on ESPN+, ESPN3 and FanDuel Sports app. (No cable.) He opening with lineup of Keshad Johnson, Pelle Larsson, Vlad Goldin, Kasparas Jackucionis, Kira Lewis Jr.

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The Heat essentially made Ware off-limits in trade discussions with the Phoenix Suns for 15-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant last month, leading the Suns to eventually deal Durant to the Houston Rockets. Ware now wants to reward the Heat for its confidence in him, starting with a dominant summer league this year. “It made me feel the Heat wanted me and they want to see how far I can get in the future and see how my development goes,” Ware said.

Miami Herald

“They see the potential in me and they see what I can be. So my main goal is to just sort of repay that they didn’t make a mistake.” While the trade rumors were swirling last month before Durant was eventually dealt to the Rockets, Ware would get updates from his agent but tried to ignore the speculation. “I didn’t really see too much of it,” Ware said. “It was one of the things I was like if it happens, it happens. If not, it doesn’t. You got to think the Heat didn’t want to give me up, but that means the other team wanted me. I didn’t really pay no mind to it.”

Miami Herald

“The best way to sum up Kel’el is I’m looking for him to put everybody on notice that he’s here and he’s for real in this league,” Heat assistant coach and this year’s summer league head coach Eric Glass said. “That basically is how everything is summed up. Yes, there are specifics that we’re trying to get into him. We always want to see him grow. There are leadership aspects. But he just needs to take the next step. He has all the capability in the world to go out and dominate games and practices, and that’s what we’re looking for from him.”

Miami Herald

“My first words to him were, ‘Welcome and let’s get to work,’” Mourning recalled regarding his first conversation with Ware after the Heat took him with the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft. “And I told him, I said, ‘You have the potential to be one of the greatest players in Miami Heat franchise history. You have that potential. But you got to put in the work.’ And that’s how we started off the conversation. “He’s done just that. You think about how he started the season and how he ended it, he’s made incredible strides. So if we can continue to see that type of progress, then we’re on our way as a franchise.”

Miami Herald

“We noticed the physicality of the game affected him a lot, it really did,” Mourning said, looking back at Ware’s rookie year. “I could name several games where he got moved a little bit too easily at that center position. He got moved around a couple times and he just has to get a little bit more comfortable with his body from that perspective. “But outside of that, his shot is there and that’s improving and we just need him to be an ultimate defensive force in that paint, especially utilizing his length and athleticism. He can be a phenomenal defensive force. But again, his body has to get stronger. Once his body gets stronger, he’ll get a little bit more confidence in some of the things that he’s capable of doing.”

Miami Herald

Anthony Chiang: The Heat is holding a draft party on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Kaseya Center. Kel'el Ware is among those who will be in attendance for the Heat. Fans must RSVP to attend the event -- more information can be found at HEAT.com/DraftParty.

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Anthony Chiang: Kel'el Ware was among the sticking points in the Heat's negotiations with the Suns that eventually led to Kevin Durant being traded to the Rockets, according to a league source. The Heat was reluctant to include Ware in its offers for Durant.

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The Suns' conversations focused on the Rockets and Heat in recent days, but both teams showed an unwillingness to part with young cornerstones such as Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard (Houston) and Kel'el Ware (Miami) in a Kevin Durant deal, sources said.

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