The Miami Heat are among the frontrunners in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors. Any offer they make to the Milwaukee Bucks would likely feature young center Kel’el Ware as a core piece. That, anyway, is the assumption. If Ware is such an appealing player, though, why is he spending so much time on Miami’s bench? <\/p>\n
The Heat are going to have a hard time explaining that one if they insist on holding him up as the gem of Milwaukee’s hypothetical haul.<\/p>\n
Keeping Ware off the floor isn’t doing Miami any favors<\/p>\n
Ware looked a lot more impressive earlier in his sophomore season. He entered the starting lineup in the second game of the year and made 26 starts overall in a 35-game stretch. <\/p>\n
During that period, Ware averaged 12.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, and over a block per game. He shot 55.5 percent from the field, 44 percent beyond the arc, and 82 percent at the free-throw line. A seven-footer who can lace threes and protect the paint? Ware looked like a force<\/a>.<\/p>\n Recent weeks have tempered expectations. Since playing poorly in his most recent start, however, Ware has been planted on the bench. Coach Erik Spoelstra has referenced attitude and effort as issues holding him back.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dating back to that final start, on January 6 against Minnesota, Ware has been reduced to more of an afterthought than an up-and-comer. Ware has played 10 games in that span, averaging seven points, 4.7 rebounds, and half a block in 14 minutes per contest. He isn’t shooting the ball nearly as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n His numbers reflect what he has become in Spoelstra’s system: a backend rotation player. Ware logged just three minutes in Saturday’s close loss to Chicago. He played half a quarter’s worth in a marquee matchup against Orlando. Those are two of his last three games. He didn’t play at all in any of the four games before.<\/p>\n This is the player the Bucks are supposed to eye with envy as they contemplate parting ways with the face of their franchise. Yeah, no. That’s not going to work.<\/p>\n Miami can’t point to immaturity to\u00a0explain away Ware’s struggles. The former 15th overall pick is still just 21, but if it’s a legitimate issue, it’s not going to disappear with a trade.\u00a0<\/p>\n Moreover, Spoelstra is one of the all-time great coaches the league has seen. Ware struggling under Spoelstra’s tutelage isn’t a great sign. In Milwaukee, he would be playing under Doc Rivers, of all coaches, or whoever the Bucks might hire in his place if Rivers is dismissed. <\/p>\n