Miami Heat: Erik Spoelstra Shares Honest Opinion on Team's Future After 2025 Season 3 Mar 8, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra talks to center Kel’el Ware (7) and forward Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Chicago Bulls during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

'It Made Me Feel They Wanted Me' – Miami Heat’s Kel’el Ware Gets 100% Honest on the Team’s Refusal to Trade Him for Kevin Durant

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Jul 5, 2025 7:52 AM ET

The Miami Heat were reportedly one of the frontrunners in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes since they had the assets to offer the Phoenix Suns. But according to reports, their negotiations broke down when the Miami Heat refused to include Kel’el Ware in the offer.

Durant eventually went to the Houston Rockets, and most recently, Ware broke his silence on the team’s decision to roll with him ahead of his sophomore NBA season.

“It made me feel the Heat wanted me and they want to see how far I can get in the future and see how my development goes,” Ware said via Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang. “That makes me want to show them what I can do and how far I can go. They see the potential in me, and they see what I can be. So my main goal is to just sort of repay that they didn’t make a mistake.”

Jan 21, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

“I didn’t really see too much of it,” he continued about the trade rumors. “It was one of the things I was like, if it happens, it happens. If not, it doesn’t. You’ve got to think the Heat didn’t want to give me up, but that means the other team wanted me. I didn’t really pay no mind to it.”

Miami Heat News: Kel’el Ware reflects on his rookie NBA season

After a productive first season with the Miami Heat, averaging 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks across 64 regular season games (36 starts), Kel’el Ware made it to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. The 21-year-old center will play in the Summer League, and he plans to use the opportunity to improve.

Jan 21, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) scores against Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) and guard Scoot Henderson (00) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

“My goals for the offseason and in the summer league is to show that I added more to my game, that I’ve gotten strong in the weight room,” Ware said. “Just showing that I can be a force out there and be dominant.”

During the Miami Heat’s Las Vegas Summer League championship run last year, Ware averaged 18 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 61.8 percent from the field, earning a spot on the All-Summer League First Team.