BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It’s finally draft day, and the wait will soon be over for Indiana’s Kel’el Ware.

The 2024 NBA Draft begins with the first round on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC and ESPN-plus. The second round will be broadcast Thursday.

Ware, a 7-foot center, is coming off a breakout sophomore season at Indiana. He averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, and he made the All-Big Ten second team and the Big Ten All-Defensive team. 

Ware most often scored around the rim, whether it was alley-oop dunks off pick-and-rolls or using his 7-foot-4.5-inch wingspan to shoot over defenders with soft touch. He led the Big Ten in defensive rebounding percentage, and he finished sixth in blocks. With a developing 3-point stroke – he shot 42.5% on 40 attempts at Indiana – Ware, just 20 years old, is an intriguing prospect.

Here’s a look at the final 2024 NBA mock draft projections for Ware on draft day.

No. 17, Los Angeles Lakers – The Ringer

No. 19, Toronto Raptors – Bleacher Report

No. 21, New Orleans Pelicans – NBC Sports

No. 24, New York Knicks – ESPN

No. 24, New York Knicks – Yahoo! Sports

No. 24, New York Knicks – USA Today

No. 30, Boston Celtics – The Athletic

No. 37, Minnesota Timberwolves – CBS Sports

Kel’el Ware Approaches Life-Changing NBA Dreams After Success at Indiana

According to a report from Michael Scotto in HoopsHype, some executives around the league are keeping an eye on Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker and his possible future should the Pacers retain Obi Toppin in free agency.

Toppin will be a restricted free agent this offseason, and Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said that the franchise is interested in continuing their partnership. “Very happy with the fit. He seems to be happy here too as well,” Buchanan said of Toppin’s free agency. “Would like to continue the relationship, it’s all part of the business when you get into a contract situation. But, really happy with Obi as a Pacer.”

The 26-year old Toppin ended the 2023-24 campaign as Indiana’s backup power forward, which is viewed as Walker’s natural position. Should Toppin stay, he would join a second unit that could consist of T.J. McConnell, Bennedict Mathurin, Ben Sheppard, and a young center — such as Jalen Smith or Isaiah Jackson.

That leaves little room for Walker right now unless he can play more positions. That said, he is just 20-years old, and Indiana still is excited about his future. Walker was the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

“We’re still big believers in Jarace and think there’s a lot of things that he can do that this roster needs,” Buchanan said of Walker while reviewing his rookie season.

The blue and gold are transitioning from a developing team into a group with expectations that is trying to win. At the same time, the idea of what Walker could be someday would fill a lot of the team’s weaknesses. They will try to develop him as fast as possible.

Rival executives are monitoring the situation, according to Scotto. “In other Pacers news, rival executives are monitoring whether the Pacers will keep forward Obi Toppin in restricted free agency. If the Pacers re-sign Toppin, several rival executives believe Jarace Walker could become a trade candidate and are monitoring the former No. 8 overall pick’s availability,” the report reads.

Toppin’s free agency still has not been resolved, and rival executives monitor many situations. It’s their job. Still, it is noteworthy that a similar report was published about Walker’s future back in January, and he was not traded and remained with Indiana.

Scotto’s entire report can be found here. Walker averaged 3.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game during his rookie season with the Pacers.

Indiana’s unemployment rate hit 3.7% in May, up one-tenth of a percent from the previous month. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development said Tuesday that the state added 3,400 private sector jobs over April.

May’s unemployment rate marked the second consecutive month-over-month increase.

The DWD said Indiana’s total private employment stands at 2,850,400. The state primarily saw job gains in the trade, transportation and utilities; professional and business services; construction; financial activities; and leisure and hospitality sectors.

The state’s labor force participation rate fell one-tenth of a percent to 62.4%, which remains slight below the national rate of 62.5%. The labor force, which includes residents who are either employed or seeking employment, stands at 3,377,185, down nearly 1,700 from the previous month.

The DWD said the state had 98,693 open job postings as of June 17, while 19,458 unemployment insurance claims were filed as of the week ending May 25.

The state’s unemployment rate is lower than the national rate, which also rose one-tenth of a percent to 4% in May.

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