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Kel'El Ware of the Indiana Hoosiers is probably hours away from learning about his fate in the 2024 NBA Draft. The center spent two years in college (one with Oregon and one with Indiana) and now is ready to take his talents to the pros, with multiple NBA teams seemingly interested in acquiring his services.
His second season saw him improve his 3-point shooting ability, making 42.5% of his 40 attempts with Indiana. Due to his height, Ware has gotten used to scoring around the rim, catching lobs or dunking off pick-and-rolls. He was a multitalented scorer in college, making himself an intriguing prospect for multiple NBA franchises.
Ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft, Kel'El Ware shares similarities with two veteran centers, Brook Lopez and Mo Bamba. They're both 7-footers who can use their wingspan to beat opponents but can also bring something else to the table.
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Kel'El Ware vs Brook Lopez/Mo Bamba: Strengths
Kel'El Ware's body helped him impact the game on both ends of the ball. As one of the tallest players on the draft, he can defend in space and protect the rim. He's a great rebounder, too, averaging 9.9 last season.
His offensive game keeps evolving, as he's not only great around the rim but can also stretch the floor with his shooting abilities. His free-throw shooting is also solid, converting 63.4% from the line.
As for Brook Lopez, he turned into a 3-point shooter later in his career, but the rebounding abilities were there from the beginning. He wasn't as explosive as Ware around the rim, but he could get buckets with his soft touch.
Mo Bamba knew how to use his body despite being very thin to NBA standards. He was a lob target as he entered the NBA and a terrific rebounder, too.
Kel'El Ware vs Brook Lopez/Mo Bamba: Weakness
The fact that Ware feels more comfortable playing near the rim can be considered a weakness.
Aggressiveness is something he has to work on once he makes it to the NBA, or his numbers won't get much better against the pros. His decision-making has often been criticized too and turnovers have become an issue for him (1.6 per game). He should be a better shot-blocker, but hopefully he can improve that in the NBA.
As for Lopez, he wasn't as fast as Bamba and Ware before entering the NBA. He had to adapt his game and make up for his lack of explosiveness with his 3-point shooting and rebounding.
Mamba had the same issue as Ware when it came to aggressiveness. He was often passive when the pressure was on him and didn't evolve that much since entering the league.
Kel'El Ware's other NBA comparisons and draft projections
Other comparisons for Kel'El Ware could be Jarrett Allen, Dereck Lively II and LaMarcus Aldridge. He possesses a big upside, but it will depend on him if he fulfills his potential.
As for his draft projection, he's considered a mid-to-late first-round pick. The LA Lakers (The Ringer), New York Knicks (ESPN) and even Boston Celtics (The Athletic) have been considered potential landing spots for Ware ahead of tonight's draft.
