At the 2024 NBA Draft, Taylor Rooks talks with No. 15 overall pick Kel'el Ware about how he might fit in with the Heat.
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• NBA Draft: List of picks, trades
The Heat entered the 2024 NBA Draft with the No. 15 and No. 43 overall picks.
No. 15 pick: Kel’el Ware
In 2023-24, Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.5 assists in 32.1 minutes across 30 appearances, all of which were starts. The 7-foot big man also displayed his outside shooting potential, converting 42.5% of his 1.3 three-point attempts per contest. For his efforts, Ware was named Second-Team All-Big Ten by the media and got a spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team.
Ware possesses a highly-coveted skill set. He can stretch the floor on offense while protecting the rim on defense. The big man has an array of post moves at his disposal and can find open teammates when facing a double team. In the pick-and-roll, Ware can pop out to three, be a capable passer in the short roll or finish lobs. Defensively, Ware is able to utilize his length and 7-foot frame to stay vertical and erase shots at the rim. — RotoWire. Go deeper.
No. 43 pick: Nikola Djurisic
- DRAFT TRADE: Heat trade Djurisic to Hawks
No. 44 pick: Pelle Larsson
- DRAFT TRADE: Heat acquire Larsson from Hawks
Larsson played four years at the college level, spending his freshman year with Utah and the subsequent three campaigns with Arizona. Larsson started in 18 of his 25 appearances as a freshman for the Utes, averaging 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest. He moved to Arizona as a sophomore, but his tenure with the Wildcats didn’t begin well, as Larsson started in just two of his 37 appearances while logging a career-low 20.7 minutes per game.
Larsson started 18 times in his junior year and experienced a statistical uptick across the board, but he would break out for good in his senior year. Larsson started in each of his 36 appearances with the Wildcats in 2023-24, averaging 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting an impressive 51.9% from the field and an elite 42.6% from beyond the arc. Larsson was named to the 2023-24 All-Pac 12 Second Team, a year in which he also finished sixth in assists per game. — RotoWire. Go deeper.
