ASK IRA: Does Heat’s Kel’el Ware deserve a degree of grace at NBA summer league?

Q: Maybe I’m oversimplifying things, but it’s as if Kel’el Ware is playing like the summer league is beneath him, a demotion after becoming a starter during his rookie season. – Rodney, Miami.

A: Let’s not do this. First, summer league is a choice, not a requirement. And Kel’el Ware already has put in more time than typical first-round picks who participate in summer league after this first season. Plus, there is the ongoing benefit of working in practices over these past two weeks with Heat coaches, work that is going unseen by the public. So there does need to be a degree of grace. But this also is who Kel’el has long been, a player who does not necessarily emote and who has needed to be prodded, as was the case at both Oregon and Indiana, with Mike Woodson throwing down the hammer during their time together with the Hoosiers. That is something that Erik Spoelstra did during the start of last season, when he challenged Kel’el to earn a starting role, and something Spoelstra did again Saturday, with his pointed comments in Kel’el’s direction. It is also something that is difficult for an assistant coach to do during summer league, when such an assistant, in this case Heat’s summer coach Eric Glass, will be moving back to his assistant role during the season. Now, if you see more of this during the preseason, that’s a different story. For now, there still is opportunity for Kel’el at summer league. Now, if he doesn’t respond with greater effort after Spoelstra’s Saturday comments, then that is and will be another story.

Q: The league isn’t getting smaller and the only reason our offense always struggles is because of pace and rebounding. Enter point Nikola Jovic, who would solve both those issues. My goodness, just unleash him already. He’s the connector and our most gifted passer and tempo guy. And he can shoot. – Swann.

A: You know what? Don’t disagree. In fact, in light of the above, if Kel’el Ware does struggle during the season, then there might be something about starting Nikola Jovic at power forward. In a starting lineup with Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Tyler Herro, Nikola would add both shooting and playmaking to that mix. As it is, Erik Spoelstra clearly is pushing for more from Nikola.

Q: Ira, good to see the coaches watching at summer league on Friday. It shows everyone is in this together. – Volpe.

A: And it also shows those who have given their time to summer league, especially those hoping for camp invitations, that they are being watched by those who make decisions. Erik Spoelstra, Chris Quinn, Malik Allen and Octavio De La Grana, among others, all were at Saturday’s practice in Las Vegas.