Knicks Draft Profile: Kel'el Ware

Kel'el Ware could help the New York Knicks boost their depth in the frontcourt if he's chosen by the team in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Jeremy Brener | Jun 12, 2024

Mar 15, 2024; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Kel'el Ware (1) reacts during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports / Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are inching closer towards the 2024 NBA Draft, where they hold the Nos. 24 & 25 picks in the first round.

There's a number of different directions the team could go in for these picks, but with Isaiah Hartenstein (unrestricted) and Precious Achiuwa (restricted) hitting the free agent market, the likelihood that the Knicks will target a center is pretty high.

Among the potential centers that the Knicks could draft is Kel'El Ware, a five-star recruit out of high school that spent his freshman year at Oregon before transferring to Indiana for his sophomore season.

"With Isaiah Hartenstein set to become a free agent this offseason, the Knicks could benefit from drafting a center. After an up-and-down freshman season at Oregon, Ware transferred to Indiana, where he turned his career around and put himself back in the conversation as a first-round pick," CBS Sports writes.

Ware struggled to get playing time at Oregon because he was a freshman behind senior center N'Faly Dante, who is also considered as a prospect for this year's draft class. When Dante announced he would return for a fifth season, it prompted Ware to find opportunity elsewhere, and he found it at Indiana.

The Hoosiers gave Ware a starting job and he averaged 15.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game for the team this past season.

As a 7-footer, Ware certainly has the size to translate to the NBA level. However, his 210-pound frame makes him small for a center. He could get bullied by stronger big men that he'll face in the pros.

Ware will struggle early on, and coach Tom Thibodeau will likely give him time to bulk up and get some reps with the G League team in Westchester to make him more ready for the moment whenever it comes.

If Ware can put on a little more muscle, he could be scary as a center in the NBA. However, this development is going to have to happen within the next year or two in order for Ware to not let other prospects in the future potentially pass him by.

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Published Jun 12, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.