The Heat announced in a press release today that they have officially signed first-round pick Kel’el Ware to a rookie scale deal. Ware officially signs his first NBA contract, making him the first player taken in the 2024 draft to do so.
Ware, who spent his freshman year at Oregon, went to Indiana a year ago and is regarded as one of the best centers in this year’s rookie class. With a great season for the Hoosiers that included 32.2 minutes per game (30 games), 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks, he was named to the Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defense teams.
Ware, the No. 15 choice in this year’s draft, will bring in about $4.23 million in pay in his first season. The value of his four-year Miami contract, which includes team options for the third and fourth seasons, is estimated to be $20.47 million.
The Heat didn’t have to wait until Saturday to get Ware to sign a contract because, although teams aren’t permitted to finalize transactions or sign specific players until July 6, they are able to sign first- or second-round picks to contracts during the moratorium period.
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