As the 2024 NBA Draft approaches, Indiana center Kel’el Ware is on the radar for the Toronto Raptors.
Despite being unable to secure a top-six pick, the opportunity remains for Toronto to add some valuable pieces around their young core.
With the draft taking place on June 26 and 27, Toronto still has plenty of time to scout prospects. So, it creates endless possibilities of who the Raptors will take with their first pick at No. 19.
Ware would provide some much-needed center help as Toronto is thin outside of Jakob Poeltl and Kelly Olynyk.
However, Ware made it known that he is not a traditional big and he can fill different roles depending on what a head coach needs, via Jeff Rabjohns of 247 Sports:
“Like I said earlier, I’m not just a back to the basket big. I’m not just a back-to-the-basket big. If a coach needs me to switch one through five, I can switch one through five. If he needs me to be that pick and pop guy, I can do that. If he needs me to be that pick and roll guy and be that lob threat, I can do that.”
During his 2023-24 season with Indiana, Ware averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.5 assists on 60.9 percent shooting from the field and 42.5 percent shooting from three.
Those are great stats from the 20-year-old who could become an intriguing prospect for the Raptors. Centers need to be able to space the floor in order to be effective and Ware can do just that.
As Poeltl’s future remains up in the air, it could make a ton of sense for the Raptors to pick Ware at No. 19. He has a chance to prove himself to Toronto in the coming days.
FanNation projects Kel’el Ware to Toronto
Mock drafts have been coming out left and right as the NBA Draft is less than a month away.
FanNation believes Ware could wind up a Raptor, recently slotting him at No. 19 in their latest mock.
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