Inside The Heat

NBA Analyst Names Miami Heat's X Factor For Upcoming Season

Rookie Kel'el Ware is Miami's X Factor

Scott Salomon

Jul 10, 2024; San Francisco, CA, USA; Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) and guard Pelle Larsson (9) on the bench before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2024; San Francisco, CA, USA; Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) and guard Pelle Larsson (9) on the bench before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports / Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat rookie Kel'el Ware is a 7-footer from Indiana with hopes of playing alongside Bam Adebayo, but his impact could go much further in year one.

NBA analyst Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report named Ware the Heat's X-Factor for the upcoming season.

"Ware extended his run over a much larger sample, earning first-team All-Summer League Honors after averaging 17.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game," Hughes wrote on Saturday. "He also posted a dunk-laden 66.7 effective field-goal percentage. Ware, a 20-year-old big man with a high-revving motor, looked great in transition and as an attacking offensive force in the half court."

Ware is one of two rookie centers named an X-Factor, joining Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Edey.

Hughes mentioned Ware poses spacing issues, while also needing to work on his defense. He is likely to spend his first season coming off the bench, but could push for a starting job sooner than later.

"He doesn't space the floor yet, and it may be a while before he proves capable of defending against guards in switching situations, but he may not need those skills to make sense alongside Bam Adebayo in Miami's rotation," Hughes wrote.

Should Ware land with the starting center job, it would move Adebayo to his more natural position of power forward.

"A starting gig isn't a given, but Ware's athleticism and energy would greatly help a Heat team that doesn't get those qualities from many other sources. If Adebayo finally adds moderate-volume three-point shooting to his repertoire, Ware's fit will be even better," Hughes stated.

Scott Salomon is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at sas@southfloridamedianetwork.com.

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Scott Salomon

SCOTT SALOMON

Scott Salomon joined FanNation on Sports Illustrated in April 2024 covering breaking news and analysis for the Miami Dolphins channel. In June he joined Inside the Heat and Back in the Day NBA. Scott is based in South Florida and has been covering the local and national sports scene for 35 years. Scott has covered and has been credentialed for the Super Bowl, the NFL Combine, various Orange Bowls and college football championship games. Scott was also credentialed for the NBA All-Star game and covered the Miami Heat during their first six seasons for USA TODAY. Scott is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Communication and the St. Thomas University School of Law. Scott has two sons and his hobbies include watching sports on television and binge watching shows on various streaming services. Twitter: @ScottSalomonNFL