The 2024 NBA Draft Combine begins on Sunday and will overlap with the draft lottery — both two big events for former Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware.
Ware is a likely first round selection in June’s draft and will participate in the combine next week. It’s another chance for the 7-footer to impress NBA scouts and continue on his impressive sophomore season with Indiana.
While extremely talented, Ware came into his lone season at Indiana looking to erase a few aspects tied to his game — low motor and toughness.
He did just that by being named All-Big Ten Second Team after averaging 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per game in 30 appearances.
Now, heading into the combine, one draft analyst believes a team will draft Ware by ”betting on the offensive skill translating’ to the next level.
“Buying Kel’el Ware as a potential lottery pick means betting on the offensive skill translating, his defensive tools for above-average rim protection and the questions about his motor or toughness being overblown,” Bleacher Report Draft Insider Jonathan Wasserman wrote. “At 7’0″ with mobility and the ability to play high above the rim, his finishing off lobs, rolls and putbacks should carry over. He took advantage of smaller bigs in the post with his high release point, touch and tough shotmaking.”
Wasserman’s expectation of Ware at the next level is also echoed by NBA scouts at this stage.
“He has great natural touch around the basket and even with his jump shot,” an NBA scout told HoosierIllustrated.com. “With his big catch radius and size he’s going to have an advantage in the NBA in those short roller type situations where he’s going to have to hit a floater or finish over the top of a help side defender. That’s going to be his bread and butter.”
Despite averaging a double-double in Big Ten play, the main question that will still remain heading into the draft is Ware’s struggles against size and athleticism.
He was just 2-of-10 against UConn and lottery projection Donovan Clingan. He was 2-of-8 against Auburn and All-American candidate Johni Broome. In the first matchup against Purdue and Zach Edey, Ware had just five points on 2-of-6 from the field.
“NBA-sized centers like Donovan Clingan, Hunter Dickinson, Johni Broome and Zach Edey kept him quiet, as Ware struggles against physicality,” Wasserman added.
His offensive talent, however, is not just limited to the paint. Ware was 17-of-40 on 3s last year, 42.5 percent. That’s a massive increase from his 15-of-55 performance as a freshman. So, finding a consistent shot can be a difference maker in his NBA stock.
It’s unclear how much of the scrimmage portion Kel’el Ware will compete in at the combine next week, but he will likely test among the top at the center position in athletic metrics.
Either way, the consistent theme around Ware and his draft stock has been revolving around a ‘risk-reward’ sentiment.
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