The Miami Heat announced today they have signed former IU center Kel’el Ware.
The Heat selected Ware in the first round (15th overall) in the 2024 NBA Draft. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team.
Reports suggest the four-year deal is worth approximately $20.5 million to $22.5 million.
According to Spotrac, Ware signed a 4 year , $22,512,733 contract with the Miami Heat, including $9,542,760 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $5,628,183. In 2024-25, Ware will earn a base salary of $4,655,040, while carrying a cap hit of $4,655,040 and a dead cap value of $4,655,040.
The Miami Herald estimates the rookie-scale contract to be worth $20.5 million over the next four seasons and includes a starting salary of $4.2 million for this upcoming season.
The 7-footer was the third Indiana player to be drafted in the last two years, following Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis. He’s the 80th Indiana player to be drafted all-time.
Ware, who was selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, started all 30 games for Indiana last season. He led the team in scoring average, rebounds per game, blocks per game, field goal percentage and double-doubles, averaging 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.5 assists and 32.1 minutes while shooting 58.6 percent from the field, 42.5 percent from three-point range and 63.4 percent from the foul line.
He was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team by the media and to the All-Big Ten Third Team by the coaches. He was one of only three Indiana players over the last 25 years to average at least 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in a single season.
He posted 15 double-doubles and grabbed at least 15 rebounds four times, including a season-high 17 at Rutgers on January 9. He recorded 10 20-point games, including a season-high 28 on two occasions. Ware shot perfect from three-point range seven times and recorded 19 multi-block games. Additionally, among conference leaders, he finished second in rebounds per game, double-doubles and field goal percentage, fifth in blocks per game and 12th in scoring average.
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