Don't let Jimmy Butler distract you from the fact Kel'el Ware is cooking
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win's basketball newsletter. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here's Prince J. Grimes.
Even when the Miami Heat aren't the ones making headlines, they're in the news these days. Today, that news comes via the Phoenix Suns, who made an odd trade with the Utah Jazz to acquire a bunch of draft picks.
You can read about the details of that trade here, but the important thing to know is how it relates to the Heat. Phoenix flipped one first-round pick into three first-rounders they can use in a potential deal (or deals) to improve the team. And it's no secret the Suns have been tied to Jimmy Butler. There's your Heat connection.
With these type of rumors constantly swirling around the Heat -- along with Butler's very public discontent that led to a suspension (and bizarre return) -- it can be easy to forget they still have to field a team every day. The Heat are 21-21 and in the thick of an Eastern Conference playoff chase. It hasn't been a great season by any means, but there have been positive things through all the chaos. Of note, rookie Kel'el Ware has been on an absolute tear.
The No. 15 overall pick in last year's draft, Ware sat more games than he played through the first 25 games of the season. However, since Dec. 21, the 7-footer been a mainstay in Miami's rotation, and it's beginning to pay off in a big way. After matching a career-high 25 points in a win over Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs on Sunday, Ware got his first career start last night against the Blazers and dropped 20 to go with a career-high 15 rebounds. It was his first career back-to-back 20-point games.
Ware's recent stretch has been so impressive that his odds to win Rookie of the Year shot up to +600 at BetMGM on Tuesday after being completely off the board a week ago. OFF THE BOARD! Out of a rookie race I said in July could be the most wide-open ever, Ware was off the board. Now he has the fourth-best odds to win it. That is bonkers.
NBA Rookie of the Year odds (BetMGM)
- Alex Sarr (+220)
- Stephon Castle (+225)
- Jaylen Wells (+325)
- Kel'el Ware (+450)
- Zach Edey (+1300)
It's a rare leap in a short period of time, but the former Indiana star left sportsbooks no choice. Out of rookies with at least 400 minutes, he's No. 1 in box plus-minus and player efficiency rating. Per 36 minutes, he's averaging 18.7 points per game on 56% shooting and 39% from three, 10.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. And though he's averaging just 15 minutes per game, he's increasingly seeing more time, including over 33 minutes in each of the last two games.
Ware looks like a real building block for a Heat team that could be relying on him a lot more in the near future if Butler really is on the move. It'll be for the best too, because with Butler still there, it's distracting from the good things they have going on.
Bucks-Pelicans postponed
From the department of news you don't hear every day, Wednesday's game between the Bucks and Pelicans in New Orleans has been postponed because of snow. Yes, in New Orleans, Louisiana. People were ice skating on Canal Street!
The Big Easy, like many other southern cities, saw a record amount of snowfall Wednesday and was likely ill-equipped to deal with it, leaving road conditions dangerous to travel on. So, though the Bucks beat the weather into New Orleans, the game still needed to be pushed back.
Here was a look at conditions at the Smoothie King Center before the game was postponed.
The NBA said a date for the rescheduled game will be announced at a later time. The Pelicans don't play again until Friday in Memphis. The Bucks are scheduled to host the Heat in Milwaukee tomorrow.
Shootaround
-- The best NBA player props for Wednesday, Jan. 22
-- Dereck Lively II will reportedly miss 2-3 months with a foot fracture
-- NBC announced Mike Tirico as lead play-by-play announcer for its upcoming NBA coverage
-- Will Jimmy Butler fix the Suns? Paste BN writers make some bold predictions