"Adebayo and Kel'el Ware are the only two real centers on the Heat's entire standard roster. They do have two-way contract rookie Vlad Goldin, although he is seemingly still so raw that he hasn't even cracked a single minute of playing time- even with Adebayo's injury. Nikola Jovic has gotten some minutes as a small ball center when Ware takes a breather, but Jovic is dealing with his own struggles."
"The 7-foot sophomore began the season in and out of the starting lineup with some consistency issues. However, the Heat's recent need for production out of Ware has led to the talented young big finally turning the corner. He has provided a much needed impact for coach Erik Spoelstra when they needed him the most. And it has been super encouraging to see."
"After Bam Adebayo went down with a toe injury a few weeks ago, the Miami Heat needed instant answers with their center position. Unfortunately, their clear lack of big man depth is something that Pat Riley and the front office did not ultimately address heading into the 2025-26 season. That only leaves one real answer for Miami in the meantime until Adebayo returns: an increased role for Ware."
Bam Adebayo suffered a toe injury, leaving Miami thin at center and exposing the team's lack of big man depth that was not addressed before the 2025-26 season. Adebayo and Kel'el Ware are the only true centers on the standard roster, while Vlad Goldin remains raw and unrewarded with minutes. Nikola Jovic and Keshad Johnson have filled small-ball center minutes but have struggled. Kel'el Ware has stepped into a larger role, providing consistent double-doubles, efficient scoring and strong rebounding in recent games. Ware's size, length and interior presence make him a critical X-factor for Miami both while Adebayo is sidelined and when they pair together.
Read at Hot Hot Hoops - Miami HEAT NBA Blog
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