Miami Heat rookie Kel’el Ware opened up about his reaction to being excluded from trade discussions involving Kevin Durant last month. According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, the Heat made Ware off-limits in talks with the Phoenix Suns, who eventually traded Durant to the Houston Rockets.
“It made me feel the Heat wanted me and they want to see how far I can get in the future and see how my development goes,” Ware said. “They see the potential in me and they see what I can be. So my main goal is to just sort of repay that they didn’t make a mistake.”
Ware, the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, signed with Miami on July 2, 2024. He made his NBA debut on October 23 and quickly showed promise, earning Rookie of the Month honors in January after scoring 20 or more points in three consecutive games.
During the swirling Durant trade rumors, Ware received updates from his agent but tried to stay focused. “I didn’t really see too much of it,” he said. “It was one of the things I was like if it happens, it happens. If not, it doesn’t. You got to think the Heat didn’t want to give me up, but that means the other team wanted me.”
In his rookie season, Ware averaged 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in 22.2 minutes over 64 games, starting 36. He also played in four playoff games, gaining valuable postseason experience.
The Durant trade involving multiple teams remains in flux, with the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, and up to five other franchises discussing a potential seven-team deal. This deal would reshape rosters across the league but leaves Ware firmly in Miami’s future plans.
