The five best fits for former Indiana basketball player Kel’el Ware in the NBA

Kel’el Ware will be the next Indiana basketball player to enter the NBA when his name is called in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft, expecting to be a first round selection next month.

While he won’t have any say on where his next home will be, some teams seem to be a better fit for the 7-foot center.

These are some of the best fits for Kel’el Ware’s NBA career.

Related: ‘They have a special place in my heart’: Kel’el Ware thankful for Indiana, Mike Woodson for pushing him ‘out of comfort zone’

Denver Nuggets

Kel’el Ware going to Denver would make a lot of sense for a ton of reasons.

While the Nuggets have the best player in the NBA in Nikola Jokic who also happens to play the same position as Ware, Denver has been searching for a consistent backup center for years.

Currently, their backup is 35-year-old center DeAndre Jordan, who in his prime was a great player, but today he does not offer what he used to.

Ware would be a great piece off the bench for Denver due to his ability to impact games on the defensive end. Jokic is not the best rim protector so adding a good rim protector in Ware would do wonders for the non-Jokic minutes.

The Nuggets organization has also proven they can develop young talent, even if they are not seeing consistent minutes. Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray, and many others are examples of their elite talent development.

The Nuggets will likely be drafting in the late 20s so if Ware is still on the board, it would be a great fit for Denver.  For Ware to go to an organization that not only needs a rim protector but can also continue to develop his game would be a good spot to begin his NBA career.

Boston Celtics

Like the Nuggets, the Boston Celtics will be picking in the back end of the first round in the upcoming NBA Draft.

With Al Horford turning 38 in June, the Celtics need front-court depth behind Kristaps Porzingis. Adding Ware as a Horford replacement would make sense for a lot of reasons.

While Ware is not as versatile of a defender as Horford, his ability to challenge and affect shots at the rim is very valuable. That combined with his ability to space the floor and shoot it from range makes him a good replacement for the veteran center.

The Celtics live and die by the three-pointer. They led the NBA in both made threes and attempts as a team while finishing second in 3PT percentage.

Ware’s ability to be a threat in the pick-and-pop game would make him a nice complimentary piece around established stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

There is still plenty for Ware to work on including his frame, but his combination of shooting and rim protection would make him a good fit to an already great Celtics roster.

Phoenix Suns

Another potential fit for Kel’el Ware could be the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns want to win now and while Ware still has a ton of development ahead of him, his length and defensive ability will allow him to make an impact very early in his career.

Currently, the Suns’ frontcourt is made up of Jusuf Nurkić and Drew Eubanks, so adding Ware would give them a different look in the frontcourt.

His ability to stretch the floor, block shots, and finish above the room would allow him to slide in as a great complimentary piece to Durant and Booker.

Ware showed his skills as a roller with Indiana this past season and the threats that both Durant and Booker bring to the table would open a lot of free runs to the rim for him.

With the Suns picking 22nd in the draft, they will likely have a good opportunity to draft Kel’el Ware and bolster their frontcourt.

New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans might be my favorite fit for Kel’el Ware. New Orleans has a clear need for a center and Ware fits their need and will likely be available for them to draft 21st overall.

Jonas Valančiūnas currently starts at center for the Pelicans, but the 32-year-old saw his minutes drop for the third consecutive season. His lack of playing time in the fourth quarter emphasized the Pelicans’ need for a center.

With the 6-foot-6 Zion Williamson starting at the four, the need for shooting and length from the center position to complement him is clear. As a true 7-footer with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, Ware would be a great pair in the front court to Williamson. His ability to space the floor would help open driving lanes for the brute force that his Williamson.

A potential lineup with CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Williamson, and Ware would boast length, athleticism, shooting, and a combination of scoring and defense, which makes Ware an extremely intriguing addition to the Pelicans roster.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls might be an unlikely destination for Ware, but would certainly make for an interesting combo. 

Going to Chicago would allow Ware to develop behind an already established veteran in 33-year-old Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic is under contract for two more years, which would allow Ware to add to his frame and develop while learning behind the former all-star.

With similar offensive games, Ware ideally would be able to fill Vucevic’s role when the center eventually moves on from the Bulls.

Chicago has a clear need for a shot-blocking big and Ware would fill that need on the defensive end. 6-foot-5 guard Alex Caruso led the Bulls in blocks a season ago as the team lacked an elite shot-blocking big.

While it seems unlikely the Bulls would take Ware at their current draft position (11), there is always the potential to trade back into the first round to select the former Indiana big man.

SEE ALSO: Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware crushes NBA Combine numbers, sets new record