Tag: Kel’el Ware

Rockets’ Sheppard, Heat’s Ware headline NBA All-Summer League first team

Rockets guard Reed Sheppard and Heat center Kel’el Ware headlined the players named to the 2024 NBA All-Summer League first team.

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard and Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware headlined the players named to the 2024 NBA All-Summer League first team on Monday.

Sheppard averaged 20 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocked shots on 50% shooting from the field in four games in Las Vegas, Nevada. The third pick finished ninth in scoring among players with at least two appearances.

Ware is averaging 17.4 points, eight rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.2 assists on 58.6% shooting from the field in five games. He has registered three double-doubles, and he has one game left to play on Monday in the summer league championship.

Joining Sheppard and Ware on the NBA All-Summer League first team were Memphis Grizzlies guards GG Jackson II (20.8 points, 8.4 rebounds) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (20 points), and LA Clippers guard Jordan Miller (25.4 points).

On the second team: Washington Wizards guard Carlton Carrington (15.8 points, 7.4 rebounds), Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (nine points, 12.3 rebounds), Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (18 points) and Brooklyn Nets guard Jalen Wilson (21.8 points).

Wilson was named the Most Valuable Player.

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Heat rookie Kel’el Ware registers 3rd double-double of summer league

Kel’el Ware recorded another double-double on Wednesday to lead the Heat to a victory over the Mavericks in summer league.

Kel’el Ware recorded another double-double on Wednesday to lead the Miami Heat to a victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ware produced a game-high 24 points, 10 rebounds, three blocked shots and one steal in the 92-79 win at the Thomas & Mack Center. He went 9-of-12 from the field, and 6-of-9 from the free-throw line, and was a plus-22 in 31 minutes.

The 15th pick was once again dominant in the paint and a tremendous lob threat for the team, having capitalized several times in pick-and-roll situations. He also helped protect the paint by blocking shots and altering others on defense.

Ware has emerged as one of the top first-year players this summer, averaging 18 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.4 assists in five appearances between Sacramento and Las Vegas. He has registered three double-doubles and scored in double figures in each game.

The 7-footer is showcasing himself at a high level and a worthy selection as a first-round pick. The sample size is certainly small against summer league competition, but Ware has had no issues with the increased level of play and has had some dominant stretches.

Ware should have the opportunity to compete for minutes in the rotation next season in the frontcourt behind Bam Adebayo and others. The team looks to have selected yet another player who has the potential to develop into a franchise cornerstone.

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Heat sign former Indiana center Kel’el Ware to rookie-scale contract

Kel’el Ware, the 15th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed his rookie-scale contract with the Heat on Monday.

Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware, the 15th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed his rookie-scale contract with the organization on Monday, the team announced.

He will make $3,526,500 next season as the 15th pick.

Ware was named to the All-Big Ten second team last season as a junior at Indiana after averaging 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.5 assists on 58.6% shooting from the field. He was one of two players in the conference to average at least 15 points and nine rebounds.

The 7-footer led the Big Ten in rebound percentage (26) and finished second in rebounding, field-goal percentage and double-doubles (15). He was fifth in blocks and 12th in scoring.

The Heat were linked to several big men throughout the predraft process and locked in on Ware in the first round. He will give the team another presence in the post with his size and ability to protect the rim, which intrigued All-Star Bam Adebayo.

Ware is expected to suit up with the Heat in summer league. The team will begin with three games in the California Classic starting on Saturday and then play at least five games in the NBA Summer League beginning July 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 20-year-old will likely be joined by second-round pick Pelle Larsson and two-way contract players Keshad Johnson, Zyon Pullin and Dru Smith, among others.

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All-American DaRon Holmes II among third wave of players invited to draft

Former Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II is among the prospects invited to attend the draft at the Barclays Center.

Former Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II is among the prospects invited to attend the 2024 NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Holmes was a consensus second-team All-American last season with the Flyers, averaging 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks in 33 games. He was also named the Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Joining Holmes in the third group of prospects to be invited to the draft green room on June 26 are Pitt guard Carlton Carrington, Colorado forward Tristan da Silva and Indiana center Kel’el Ware.

Teams with first-round picks each year vote on the players they believe will be drafted early, typically the top 20-25 prospects. Last year, 25 prospects were invited to the green room and only one wasn’t selected in the first round (Rayan Rupert, 43rd overall pick).

The first group of players invited to the green room included French players Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and Tidjane Salaün; UConn players Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle; G League Ignite players Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland; and Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard.

Included in the second batch of invitations were Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, Serbian guard Nikola Topić, Duke players Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski, Miami forward Kyshawn George, Baylor center Yves Missi and Kansas forward Johnny Furphy.

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Sixers select Indiana big man Kel’el Ware at No. 16 in latest mock draft

The Philadelphia 76ers are selecting Indiana’s Kel’el Ware with the No. 16 pick in the latest mock draft.

The Philadelphia 76ers enter an important offseason as the clock is ticking for President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey to deliver a championship to the City of Brotherly Love.

The Sixers are armed with the cap space and tradeable assets needed to bring in another big piece next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia has the star duo foundation, but now they need the pieces to fit.

They have the No. 16 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, and one has to wonder whether Morey will keep the pick. If the Sixers make the selection, they could look into a big man out of Indiana.

A mock draft by Bleacher Report has the Sixers selecting Indiana’s Kel’el Ware:

Kel’el Ware measured well at the NBA combine, even showing a standing reach that was 2.5 inches longer than potential No. 1 overall pick’s Alex Sarr. He was also down 12 pounds from Indiana’s listing. For Ware to maximize his draft stock, he’s going to have to convince teams to buy into his three-point range.

Ware still has a very high skill level for a center who’s above average athletically and nearly 7’0″ in socks. And the big increase in scoring production helped validate the effectiveness of his tools, movement and shotmaking.

Ware has been compared to Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez. Ware’s ability to block shots at a high rate while improving his offensive game makes him an intriguing prospect when the time comes around in June.

The Sixers could move on from Paul Reed in the offseason due to his contract being non-guaranteed for the 2024-25 season, so somebody like Ware would make sense.

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Sixers select Indiana big man Kel’el Ware No. 16 in latest mock draft

The Philadelphia 76ers are selecting Indiana big man Kel’el Ware with the No. 16 pick in the latest mock draft.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place on June 26 with the first round of the draft and then the second round taking play on June 27. It is the time  prospects realize their dreams of being in the NBA and for teams to select their next young piece.

The Philadelphia 76ers own the No. 16 pick in the draft. While one has to assume they’ll move the pick, there are some options that could help them in that area of the draft.

A mock draft put together by Bleacher Report has the Sixers thinking big. They have them taking Indiana’s Kel’el Ware with their selection:

It seems like Kel’el Ware can only rise during a pre-draft process that will highlight his outstanding measurements, athleticism and comfort level shooting threes.

Though he struggled during Indiana’s finale and loss to Nebraska, he mostly had a strong last two months in terms of scoring and impact.

Narratives that point out empty stats or low-impact production have lost steam. He delivered more consistently in one-on-one situations around the basket while also flashing bonus shotmaking touch and range that create more offensive upside.

In 30 games with Indiana as a sophomore, Ware averaged 15.9 points and 9.9 rebounds and he shot 42.5% from deep on 1.3 attempts per game. He has the ability to step out and hit jumpers and is somebody the Sixers could use as a future backup to Joel Embiid. While Paul Reed is still around, his contract is now non-guaranteed for 2024-25 due to Philadelphia not advancing to the second round.

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Kel’el Ware: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2004 | 7’0 | 7’7 WS | 242 LBS Team: Indiana Agent: CAA / Max Saidman Best aggregate mock draft rank: 14 / Worst rank: N/A 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 0.6 steals per game. He shot …

2004 | 7’0 | 7’7 WS | 242 LBS

Team:  Indiana

Agent: CAA / Max Saidman

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 14 / Worst rank: N/A

2023-24 stats:

In 2023-24, Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 0.6 steals per game. He shot 58.6 percent from the field, 42.5 percent from three, and 63.4 percent from the foul line.

Former Duck center Kel’el Ware declares for the NBA draft

The former 5-star Oregon recruit and Indiana transfer is heading to the NBA.

He wasn’t a one-and-done, but he was close.

Former Oregon basketball center Kel’el Ware, who transferred to Indiana after one season in Eugene, has declared for the NBA draft in June.

Ware, a 7-footer from North Little Rock, Ark. played 30 games as a Hoosier this past season after playing 35 games as a Duck in his freshman season. He was hampered with an ankle injury towards the end of this year in Bloomington.

But before the injury, Ware was productive as he averaged 15.9 points a game and 9.9 rebounds for the Hoosiers. Those numbers were significantly better than his only season under Dana Altman. Ware scored just 6.6 points a game and 4.1 rebounds.

Seeing him transfer out of the Oregon program was a disappointment as Ware clearly possesses the talent to have a season like he had at Indiana. But the center was playing behind N’Faly Dante and wouldn’t have received the minutes like he did at Indiana.

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Projected first-round pick Kel’el Ware declares for 2024 NBA draft

Ware was named to the All-Big Ten second team after averaging 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.5 assists.

Indiana sophomore Kel’el Ware announced Tuesday on Instagram that he will declare for the 2024 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility after one season with the Hoosiers.

Ware was named to the All-Big Ten second team after averaging 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.5 assists on 58.6% shooting from the field in 30 games. He was one of two players in the conference to average at least 15 points and nine rebounds (Zach Edey, Purdue).

The 7-footer led the Big Ten in rebound percentage (26) and finished second in rebounding, field-goal percentage and double-doubles (15). He was fifth in blocks and 12th in scoring.

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Ware transferred to Indiana after playing his freshman year at Oregon. He started that season projected to be a first-round pick in the draft, but after an inconsistent campaign, he decided to enter the transfer portal and move to Bloomington.

He is considered a mid-to-late first-round pick after a strong year. He impressed in a larger role with his rebounding and ability to block shots, and has shown some floor spacing ability after converting 42.5% from 3-point range on 1.3 attempts per game.

Ware projects to provide teams drafting in the first round with some versatility in the frontcourt, with his size and ability. He will be able to showcase himself in front of teams in workouts, and the draft combine May 12-19 in Chicago, Illinois.

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2024 NBA Mock Draft: Latest first-round projections at midway point of season

Rookie Wire took a look at the 2024 NBA draft class and where the top prospects stand as of Feb. 1.

The top NBA draft prospects worldwide have collectively reached the second halves of their respective seasons as they look to showcase themselves in front of scouts and executives.

The class this year has seen several players help their stock, while others have struggled and fallen down draft boards. Some players have also dealt with recent injuries and other factors that have prevented them from reaching their potential.

The draft is widely considered open at the top of the board, with several prospects in the conversation to be the first selection. Unlike last year, when Victor Wembanyama was the consensus No. 1 pick, there is no clear-cut choice this year.

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Prospects will continue to see their standing fluctuate over the remaining two-plus months of action on the court as scouts have more time to evaluate them. The sheer unknown atop the draft board should create plenty of storylines to follow over the remainder of the season.

The NBA announced on Wednesday that the draft will be expanded to a two-night format, with the first round set to take place on June 26 at the Barclays Center. The second round will be at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York the following night.

Rookie Wire looked at the class and where the top prospects stand at this point of the season. The order was determined by the reverse order of the NBA standings as of Feb. 1.

Note: Player fit wasn’t necessarily taken into account with each pick. Pick protections and other notes courtesy of Tankathon.