Is Kel’el Ware The Answer?

Is Kel’el Ware the answer for this struggling Miami Heat team moving forward?

Yesterday afternoon, the Heat faced the San Antonio Spurs in a game they desperately needed
to win after a tough stretch of three losses. The defensive side of the ball has been a glaring
issue for this team recently, and they needed some sort of spark to turn things around and get
back into the win column.

Midway through the second quarter, Bam Adebayo was at the scorer’s table waiting to check in
while both Nikola Jović and Kel’el Ware were on the court. Normally, Bam would replace Ware
at this point, but suddenly, Bam pointed at Jović instead. Heat fans everywhere were stunned,
realizing they were finally witnessing this highly anticipated pairing in meaningful minutes.

To be fair, this was the vision Heat fans had in mind ever since the team drafted Kel’el Ware with
the 15th overall pick in last summer’s draft. The idea of pairing Bam and Ware was exciting, but
the real surprise was how long it took for Coach Erik Spoelstra to showcase it. After the game,
Spoelstra was asked about the duo’s extended minutes and said:

“That was definitely the initial spark to the game… they were dynamic. This is
something we’ve been slowly starting to work on… I know Kel’el generates a lot of
opinions, but let us do our job.”

To Spoelstra’s credit, Ware went on to start the second half alongside Adebayo—and
dominated! The Heat scored 46 points in the third quarter and 82 in the second half, setting a
franchise record.

After watching fan reactions to this dynamic pairing, I’m sold on it being a game-changer for
Miami. Maybe Ware shouldn’t start the very next game, but it’s more than likely we’ll see him
working his way into the starting lineup alongside Bam. This shift could come midseason as the
coaching staff capitalizes on the sheer potential of this group—not just for defense and size but
for an improved offense with better spacing and more versatile options.

Ware’s ability to space the floor is undeniable, showing confidence in his three-point shot—a
skill he demonstrated in Indiana, where he shot 42% from beyond the arc. His inside game is
equally impressive. At his size, he can dunk over almost anyone, and his touch around the rim
is exceptional.

One play from yesterday’s game stood out in particular: Ware shot a floater over Victor
Wembanyama—a feat considering Wemby’s 7’3″ (or 7’4″) frame and his expected 8-foot
wingspan. Ware lofted the shot just high enough to avoid Wemby’s reach, then flexed his wrist
all the way back down the court, fully aware he had just made a spectacular play.

Ware’s versatility on the court is what’s gotten him this far, and it will continue to earn him
opportunities and minutes. Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson thrive when he’s on the court
because of his ability to spread the floor so effectively. Ware has an impeccable sense of timing, consistently rolling to the rim for lob plays or catching the ball near the basket to finish with a
floater or layup.

Huge shoutout to Duncan Robinson for having an incredible game today—and even more
impressively, for throwing down a huge dunk over Victor Wembanyama. Yes, you read that
correctly: Duncan Robinson dunked over Wemby. It’s hard to believe, but it absolutely
happened. For some odd reason, Duncan seems to have Wemby’s number. Last season, he hit
Wemby with a simple crossover that had him stumbling in the wrong direction, allowing Duncan
to score an easy layup.

The shooters on the court noticeably improve with Ware in the lineup. Their percentages climb,
and the defense becomes more versatile and impressive when he’s out there. It’s a look most
teams haven’t seen from the Heat, and this Miami squad needs to capitalize on it and stack up
some much-needed wins.

Currently sitting at one game over .500 with a 21-20 record, the Heat must string together wins
to avoid falling further behind. They’ve found something new and exciting in this lineup, and
maybe—just maybe—it’s the beginning of something special. That’s what I’m hopeful for.
With all the Jimmy Butler drama this season has brought up to the midway point, we can only
hope this bright spot at the 41st game marks the start of something significant—and not just a
fleeting glimmer of hope.