The Knicks can dream about Kel’el Ware, and for good reason. He checks a lot of boxes New York doesn’t have enough of right now: size, upside, cost control and a skill set that could fit next to Karl-Anthony Towns or behind him.
But dreaming and doing are two very different things.
Ware was one of the main pieces sent to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal that sent the former MVP to Miami a few weeks ago, and the Bucks made that move with a clear idea of how the 22-year-old fits into their future. That’s why any Knicks pursuit starts with a major obstacle: Milwaukee may simply have no interest in moving him this early.
Still, the idea has been floating around New York circles for a while. Sam Quinn of CBS Sports floated Ware as a Knicks trade target and even laid out a bold offer: “This is my ultra aggressive backup center idea for the Knicks:Offer the Bucks a 2032 swap and a 2033 unprotected first for Kel’El Ware.CAA guy.
Two cheap years left. Ultra-talented.
Get him in a winning culture, try to develop him into the long-term 4 once Hart ages out.”
There’s logic behind the fascination. The Knicks currently have only two centers on the roster, and the free-agent market doesn’t offer much help. A trade is the clearest path to upgrading the position, especially if New York wants someone who can stretch the floor and grow into a bigger role.
Ware’s salary also makes him a workable target on paper. He’s set to make $4.6 million, and Pacome Dadiet’s $2.9 million expiring deal could cover part of the matching salary.
Tyler Kolek is at $2.2 million and could be included as well, with draft picks attached. If the Knicks don’t intend to re-sign Miles McBride, he could also become part of the package to help balance the value going out.
The CAA connection adds another layer. Leon Rose spent years rising through the NBA as a power agent at CAA, which also represents Ware.
That relationship matters in New York, where the Knicks have already done plenty of business with CAA ties. Tom Thibodeau, Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns all came through that pipeline.
On the court, Ware’s appeal is easy to see. In 77 regular-season games this past season, the 15th overall pick in the 2024 draft averaged 11.1 points, 9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 22.1 minutes.
He also shot 39.5% from three-point range on three attempts per game. For a player who just turned 22, that points to a lot more room to grow.
The concerns are real, though. Ware has had questions around his motor and mindset, and Erik Spoelstra didn’t hide his frustration with him. That helped explain why Ware started only 34 games and often stayed on the bench when the game tightened up.
Even so, the Bucks may view him as too important to move. With Milwaukee trying to reset after losing one of the most significant players in franchise history, a young, inexpensive big man like Ware can be part of the foundation. That makes him a tough sell, even if New York were willing to offer a future first or a stack of second-round picks.
For the Knicks, the attraction is obvious. Ware could back up Towns, give them another spacing option and even share the floor with him in double-big lineups. If New York could pull it off, it would go a long way toward finishing the roster.
If Milwaukee says no, there’s still another center route that could help New York. Jericho Sims opted into his $2.5 million contract for next season, and a deal built around Dadiet plus maybe a second-round pick could bring him in. Sims has played well since getting more run with the Bucks and could help stabilize the position until the trade deadline.
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