Mailbag: Is Kel’el Ware’s importance to Heat being underestimated?
.JPG "Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) reacts after a play against the Orlando Magic in the first half of their NBA game at Kaseya Center on March 14, 2026, in Miami.")
The Miami Herald’s Heat mailbag is here to answer your questions. If you weren’t able to ask this time, send your questions for future mailbags via X (@Anthony_Chiang). You can also email them to achiang@miamiherald.com.
@lvuexxx: But Erik Spoelstra fans and Kel’el Ware haters told me I was wrong when I said that the only way we would win is if they get and keep Kel’el Ware involved in the game.
Anthony Chiang: I’m guessing you’re alluding to the fact that the Heat is now 23-2 this season when Ware posts a positive plus/minus. When Ware’s plus/minus has been a negative, the Heat is just 11-30 this season.
You could make the argument that Spoelstra’s tough love approach on Ware is proof that Spoelstra knows how important Ware is to the Heat’s success. During an up and down second NBA season for Ware, Spoelstra has continued to hold Ware accountable and make him earn his minutes.
But one could also argue that Spoelstra hasn’t given Ware enough room in games to make mistakes and grow, often cutting and limiting his minutes when Ware has a bad first stint.
Whichever side you’re on, the bottom line is the Heat needs Ware to be a positive. Spoelstra knows it, which is why he continues to push Ware for more as the Heat’s backup center.
The Heat has been outscored by 4.4 points per 100 possessions this season with Ware on the court and starting center Bam Adebayo off the court. If the Heat can begin winning more of the non-Adebayo minutes, more victories will follow.
Alexander: Seems like everyone at some point (sometimes at several points) of this season has emphasized the importance of making a big move or two this summer. Have you gotten any indication from anyone in the Heat organization that we will finally see them do this? We absolutely can’t run it back yet again.
Anthony: One thing I can guarantee is the Heat will try to make a big move. In fact, the Heat has tried to make a big move a few times in recent years. Whether it’s for Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Heat has explored multiple trades for stars over the last few years. And the Heat will continue to pursue such trades this upcoming offseason.
The question is does the Heat have enough to get such a trade done? The Heat tried to land Antetokounmpo ahead of February’s trade deadline, but the Milwaukee Bucks evidently either had no interest in dealing away Antetokounmpo at that time and/or wasn’t interested in Miami’s trade package.
This is why one of the most important things for the Heat during the final weeks of this season is for its top trade chips to play well and improve their value. At the moment, Ware is seen as the Heat’s top young trade chip. But Ware has had an up and down second NBA season that has flashed his intriguing potential as a three-and-D 7-footer at times and also has had Spoelstra publicly calling him out and challenging him other times.
