The 2026 trade deadline was quiet for the New Orleans Pelicans as the front office made just one move. Their next opportunity to shake up the roster comes this offseason. So why not highlight the perfect trade target for the Pelicans this summer? Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware.
The 21-year-old sophomore big has shown flashes as a threat on the floor, protecting the rim from 7 feet, averaging 11.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 39.7 percent from three. Despite these impressive averages, it has become clear over time that his relationship with head coach Erik Spoelstra could ultimately make his time in Miami short-lived.
Ware addresses several shortcomings with one transaction
Throughout the season, Spo has repeatedly criticized Ware in the media and backed up this criticism with varying minutes. Some nights Ware thrives and gets close to 30 minutes, other nights he logs under 10, or sometimes he sits on the bench for the entire second half.
The most concerning game for Ware was against the Celtics on January 15, when the Heat blew a 19-point lead and lost 119-114 to Boston.
He logged less than 9 minutes in this game, shot 1/5 from the field, and when Spo was asked about it after the game, he said something along the lines of Ware also accumulates many bad days in a row. This led to Ware being thrown into trade rumors as part of a potential package for Giannis Antetokounmpo. But what if the Heat miss out on Giannis? Can they pivot forward into another crushing physical force? Someone like Zion Williamson?
That’s where the Pelicans can come into play. If New Orleans finally wants to acquire Williamson this summer, getting Ware as part of the package for the two-time All-Star is a must.
Of course, everything said about Ware’s situation in Miami makes him sound like a liability, especially with lingering questions about consistency and motor skills. But at the same time, the Pelicans have two major problems: size and floor spacing. Ware would help address both shortcomings in one move. The Pelicans are fourth worst in the rankings three-pointers made per game and also give up the second most offensive rebounds per game.
A big reason for both issues is the undersized front end of the 6-foot-10 Williamson and 6-foot-11 Derik Queen. Similar to these two in the paint, other teams routinely outpace the Pelicans in size, and things only get worse when you consider neither player is making a combined 0.3 threes per game.
Trading Williamson in a deal for Ware and some form of salary filler would immediately change things, as the Pelicans would have a much larger front court at 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-4. It would also address spacing issues and provide New Orleans with a long-term center that better aligns with Jeremiah Fears and Queen’s timeline.
If there are any doubts about how Ware could figure into a role for the Pelicans, just look at the 28-point, 19-rebound performance he had against the Knicks in December. That outing reminded us exactly why he could solve multiple problems in New Orleans with one move.
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