Kel'el Ware may have given the Bucks something they sorely lacked last season: a real answer on the offensive glass.
Milwaukee finished 30th in the NBA in second-chance points, a brutal number for a team trying to keep pace in a league where rebounding has become a major separator again. Ware, by contrast, was one of the best in that area last season, ranking 10th in the entire NBA in second-chance points. For a Bucks team that badly needed a boost in that department, that matters.
The fit makes sense on paper. Ware brings size and bounce, and he can live around the rim instead of drifting out to the perimeter all the time.
That is a different look from Myles Turner, even if Ware has the ability to hit threes with impressive accuracy. His natural lane-running style gives Milwaukee a chance at more easy finishes when shots miss, especially on tip-ins and quick putbacks.
The Bucks also have another piece who could help turn Ware into a bigger threat: Jericho Sims.
Among Milwaukee’s centers, Ware has the most obvious rebounding upside. He is officially listed at 7'0" with a 7'4" wingspan.
But Sims brings the kind of motor that makes rebounds turn into points. At 6'10" with a 7'3" wingspan, he finished last season converting 67% of his putback chances.
Ware, by comparison, made 50% of his putback attempts. Volume is part of that story, since he took far more of those shots than Sims over the course of the season. Still, working alongside Sims could sharpen the details that matter on the offensive boards - timing, positioning, and the kind of relentless effort that turns missed shots into extra possessions.
If Sims can help push Ware into cleaner, more consistent finishes after offensive rebounds, Milwaukee’s offense should be better for it.
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