Heat's perfect role for Kel'el Ware is painfully obvious

"The Miami Heat are learning plenty about themselves as they navigate the preseason. None of these lessons, though, are more important than the discovery that Kel'el Ware needs to play with the second unit. Kudos to head coach Erik Spoelstra and the rest of the staff for recognizing this to begin the year. They must now resist the temptation to experiment more following Ware's mesmerizing performance against Victor Wembanyama, and the San Antonio Spurs."

"Playing with the second unit ensures that Ware will be alongside players who both get off the ball quickly, and are more prone to deep drives. It says a lot that Kasparas Jakucionis has assisted Ware more than anyone else on the Heat so far. His downhill attacks not only draw two the ball, but routinely culminate in paint touches:"

"This type of play is not the strength of an Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, or even a healthy Tyler Herro. And if you're worried about Jakucionis having a limited role as a rookie, bench-mob lineups are sure to incorporate Pelle Larsson, someone else who excels at extending his drives deep into the paint. Once Herro returns from his ankle injury, Miami is also bound to roll out more Norman Powell-plus-the-bench units."

Kel'el Ware fits best with the Miami Heat second unit because bench personnel tend to get off the ball quickly and attack downhill, creating high-value paint touches. Kasparas Jakucionis has been Ware's primary facilitator, drawing defenders and converting dump-offs into interior opportunities. Bench-mob lineups that include Pelle Larsson and Jakucionis extend drives into the paint and complement Ware's strengths more than starters like Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, or an injured Tyler Herro. Once Herro returns, Miami is likely to deploy more Norman Powell-plus-bench units, and coaching staff should avoid over-experimenting after Ware's standout preseason showing.

Read at allucanheat.com