New York Knicks Projected To Draft Indiana’s Center With No. 24 Pick

The New York Knicks are projected to draft Indiana center Kel’el Ware with the No. 24 pick in the first round, according to the latest Aggregated 2024 NBA Mock Draft published by HoopsHype on May 28.

Ware is a 7-foot, 242-pound sophomore center. He will turn pro having played for both Oregon as a freshman and Indiana as a sophomore. Born on April 20, 2004, Ware was a consensus 5-star recruit from North Little Rock High School where he averaged 20.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 5.7 blocks per game as a senior.

Ware has significantly boosted his draft stock after a lackluster freshman season at Oregon in which he only started for games (35 played) averaging 15.8 MPG. He doubled that playing time this season with the Hoosiers (32.2 MPG) starting all 30 games he appeared in. A solid Draft Combine also helped raise his stock in the eyes of analysts and scouts.

The sophomore is coming off a season at Indiana University in which he averaged 15.9 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.9 BPG, and 0.6 SPG. On top of those figures, Ware shot 58.6 from the field, 42.5 from three, and 63.4 from the charity stripe.

According to HoopsHype, Ware ranked in the 87th percentile as a post-scorer in college this year. He developed “a consistent right-handed hook shot” and “a turnaround fadeaway jumper over his right shoulder on the block” to complement his three-point shooting.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto dropped a few draft notes and a detailed scouting report on May 3. According to the report, Ware is best known for his defensive prowess. He excels in rim protection thanks to his length and athleticism, and he is also a proficient shooter with strong mechanics, particularly from three-point range given his size.

Ware is also efficient around the rim and has some passing chops, which makes him a versatile big a la Isaiah Hartenstein. He’s considered a very agile player for a seven-footer showing “impressive footwork,” while the report also indicates he’s coachable, down-to-earth, and disciplined in avoiding fouls.

The Indiana kid, a native of North Little Rock, AR, has put up double-doubles steadily and he’s “adept in the pick-and-roll game and as a rim runner.” He boasts a “throwback” and dunks the rock with gusto.

However, Ware needs to improve as a switchable defender and is considered somewhat raw in his overall skill set. A little bit more worrying considering he’ll be joining a Tom Thibodeau team is the final bullet point included in the weaknesses section of his report: “Was criticized in the past for being soft, lacking effort, and communication.“ No bueno, don’t tell Thibs!

Speaking to HoopsHype at the NBA Draft Combine, Ware said he’s “able to pick-and-pop, be a lob threat, and can defend on the perimeter.”

Added Ware: “I don’t have slow feet, so I feel like that will make me especially good on the defensive end to be able to move around and affect and block shots.”

Ware’s biggest criticism, according to HoopsHype’s analysts, is his low motor, but he has worked to change that perception this season and continues to do so during the pre-draft process.

“The motor aspect and what everybody says about it,” Ware said, “I feel like I’ve proven that enough, but I still have some more to prove.”

For the New York Knicks, Ware could provide valuable center depth with Isaiah Hartenstein and Precious Achiuwa entering free agency this summer, depending on what the franchise decides to do with those two—as well as how the Knicks deal with the future of Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson, under contract for next season at the very least but movable in potential trade packages.

Hartenstein has made it known that he’d like to say put in New York, but it’s not that the Knicks have a vast amount of cap room available. “I love it here,” Hartenstein said. “Hopefully, we’ll figure something out.”