2024 Prospect Spotlight: Ke'lel Ware

[Jamaaliver]

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[jayu70]

Wanted him with the Kings pick. Stupid Kings.

[Jamaaliver]

My thoughts in June. My thoughts today. They remain unchanged.

Trade down and take Kel'el Ware.

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[HMFFL]

My thoughts in June. My thoughts today. They remain unchanged.

Trade down and take Kel'el Ware.

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I mentioned you in the GB post that you liked Ware.

Good call Jamaal

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[Jamaaliver]

[Jamaaliver]

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[HMFFL]

NBA ROY Odds
Kel'el Ware +130
Stephon Castle +325
Jaylen Wells +550
Zaccharie Risacher +600

Example: If you placed $100 on Ware to win and if he does you would win $130

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[Jamaaliver]

Had we traded back in last year's draft and gotten Ware plus other assets, I believe that haul would have also been useful long term.

I believe he'll be more productive than Alex Sarr in his prime...but not quite the defender.

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[Jamaaliver]

Just imagine him catching alley oops from Trae for the next 5 years...

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[Jamaaliver]

And this was why you couldn't simply take Kel'el ware at #1 last draft.

Dude has all the talent in the world with the maturity of a 12 year old.

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[jayu70]

And this was why you couldn't simply take Kel'el ware at #1 last draft.

Dude has all the talent in the world with the maturity of a 12 year old.

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I don't remember anyone wanting him at #1.
I wanted him with the Kings pick if the Kings had done what they were supposed to.

[Jamaaliver]

I don't remember anyone wanting him at #1.

I wanted him with the Kings pick if the Kings had done what they were supposed to.

I was on record as saying Ware was a comparable prospect to Alex Sarr. I advocated trading back from #1 last draft and grabbing Ware later in the lottery rather than take Sarr.

The question was later posed -- 'if Jamaaliver likes Ware so much, why not just draft him #1 overall?"

And this was the reason. Lack of professionalism and focus was always the biggest concern with Kel'el.

[Jamaaliver]

I do believe I called this...13 months ago.

Ranking the Top 10 NBA Trade Chips Right Now

3. Kel'el Ware, Miami Heat

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While the Heat threw their hat into the Kevin Durant sweepstakes this summer, they did so while keeping Kel'el Ware out of those talks. And that probably torpedoed their chances, while also making clear how much they value the athletic 7-footer with a potential unicorn blend of modern-big-man skills.

So, why bother putting Ware on this list? Because there's a difference between not wanting to flip a 21-year-old for a 36-year-old on an expiring contract and actually making that young player outright untouchable.

There's almost assuredly a return rich enough for Miami to loosen its grip on Ware, but it would take quite a bit.

He wasn't a rotation player at the start of his freshman season and by the end of it, he was a nightly starter and an All-Rookie second-teamer. He looks like he'll provide both shot-blocking and perimeter-shooting, plus above-the-rim finishing and plenty of rebounding, during his prime and could push for stardom if everything breaks right with his development.

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