The Houston Rockets made arguably the biggest move of the offseason but don’t think they’re done making moves yet. As they continue to mold their roster into a true title-contender, Cam Whitmore “has been the subject of a number of trade discussions in recent days,” according to The Athletic beat reporter Kelly Iko.
Rockets’ Cam Whitmore ‘Subject’ Of Multiple Trade Discussions
Whitmore, the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has had difficulty getting traction with the up and coming Western Conference squad. Over the past two seasons, he’s appeared in just 98 games. As with many young players, this has been due to both injury and coaching decisions. However, there’s an element to Whitmore’s situation that’s somewhat atypical.
Due to the amount of draft capital the Rockets amassed, they’ve been able to add several promising perimeter prospects over the years.
To that point, when Whitmore was drafted, Houston already had 2021 No. 2 pick Jalen Green on the roster and 2022 No. 17 pick Tari Eason. One could say that already had Amen Thompson as well, considering he was drafted 16 spots ahead of Whitmore. The presence of veteran Dillon Brooks, a favorite of Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, complicated matters as well. Essentially, he was starting down the barrel of a minute crunch from Day 1.
Since then, they’ve traded starters Green and Brooks, but in exchange for Hall of Fame forward Kevin Durant. Additionally, Thompson proved himself to be a star-caliber player in a breakout 2024-25 campaign. As a result, he and Durant should be penciled in as Brooks’ and Green’s replacement in the starting lineup. Eason, who effects winning at a high level with his defense, shooting and transition play, is a lock for a rotation spot as well.
How The Cookie Crumbles
That doesn’t mean Whitmore wouldn’t be able to play a consistent role. However, between Durant, Thompson and Eason, there might not be too many minutes for him. As a result, trading the Maryland native could be what’s best for his career and future earnings.
Sometimes, that’s just how the cookie crumbles.
It could also benefit the Rockets, who’ll likely want a more heady and efficient player than Whitmore. To that point, Houston’s roster construction and myriad maladies aren’t the only reason why Whitmore hasn’t taken on a larger role. He’s a hyper-athletic spark plug with two-way potential. Yet, the Rockets have wanted him to sharpen up his defense and 3-point shooting.
Though averaging a respectable 10.8 points per game for his career, he’s converted 35.7 percent of his 3s, which is slightly suboptimal. At the other end, he has the physical tools to be a solid point-of-attack defender. However, his tenacity and awareness at that end haven’t always been up to snuff. Frankly, on an Udoka-coached team, this was far more of an issue than a streaky 3-ball.
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