Kel’el Ware looks like the kind of young center the Bucks should be building around, but right now he’s stuck behind Myles Turner, and that’s limiting what Milwaukee can learn about him.
Ware has shown enough to make the case for a bigger role. In about 20 minutes per game, he’s putting up roughly 13 points and 9 rebounds while shooting 47% from the field and 27% from three-point range.
The production is encouraging, but the uneven minutes have kept him from settling into any real rhythm. The Bucks’ rotating cast of guards, especially with the bench units, hasn’t helped either.
The shot profile tells its own story. About a third of Ware’s attempts are coming from deep, which could be a useful part of his game if the numbers were better.
At the moment, though, those threes are more puzzling than productive. He’s not getting enough consistent run to build momentum, and that makes it harder to judge just how much upside is really there.
That’s why the Turner situation matters so much. Milwaukee has committed a lot to Turner, but he’s also blocking Ware’s path to a full-time starting job. The source of the problem is simple: Ware is only getting 20 minutes per game because Turner is starting ahead of him, and it’s difficult to see that changing unless Turner is traded.
The age gap only sharpens the argument. Ware is 22 and still climbing, while Turner is 30 and likely beyond his peak.
If the Bucks are serious about a rebuild, Ware fits that timeline far better. He could also benefit from playing more minutes with better guards, which might help him find more efficiency and a steadier offensive flow.
Turner’s play this season hasn’t helped his case. He’s been a negative on the court because of his poor shooting and usual struggles on the glass.
Even with 6 more minutes per game than Ware, Turner is averaging almost 4 fewer rebounds. In a league that has swung back toward rebounding and squeezing out extra possessions, that’s a real problem.
Milwaukee should be looking for a trade partner for Turner and trying to recover whatever value it can. Once he’s out of the way, Ware can start building chemistry with the Bucks’ young guards and maybe emerge as a central piece of the rebuild. And even if he doesn’t become the team’s long-term answer at center, the Bucks still need to give him the runway to find out what he can be.
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