The Houston Rockets are widely viewed as one of the best-positioned teams to make a trade. They are a young team that some might say overachieved by getting the No. 2 seed. What the playoffs showed is that they need a true superstar, someone who will take over games consistently. According to the latest rumors, the Rockets have a secret weapon for the trade market.
Rockets Secret Weapon Could Shake Up the Trade Market
The Rockets have plenty of young players on their team. Some of them do not even get enough playing time, leading other teams to try and acquire them instead. According to the latest reports from The Athletic, a handful of teams have asked about the availability of Cam Whitmore, a wing who has received limited opportunities with the Rockets.
Whitmore is entering his third year in the league and has not cracked Ime Udoka’s rotation. In his first year, he played 18.7 minutes per game, and that dropped to 16.2 in his second season. In the playoffs this year, he hardly got any playing time.
Is Whitmore Time in Houston Coming to an End?
So far, Whitmore and his representation have not requested a trade out of Houston. The young forward hopes to find a solution and get more playing time for the Rockets.
Yet, on the other hand, all signs point to him leaving Houston via trade. For starters, he has a low salary that teams with high payroll would love. Whitmore is on a team option for 2025-26 and 2026-27. He will earn $3.7 million and 5.7 million per season, respectively. Getting a young player, still only 20 years old, who can score and defend would be amazing at that price.
Whitmore shot 35% from behind the arc in his first two seasons in the league. He attempted almost five threes per game in his first season, and that number dropped to 3.6 in his second season.
Houston Rockets Possible Targets on the Trade Market
The Houston Rockets have been mentioned as a destination for several players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant. With their draft capital and plenty of young talent, the Rockets can outbid almost any team on the trade market.
The question is, who will they go for? This offseason, Giannis holds all the cards. Until he makes a move—either publicly say he is staying in Milwaukee or ends up on another team—everything else is on hold.
But there are also some underrated moves that the Rockets can make. For example, trying to get Jaylen Brown from the Celtics. With Jayson Tatum injured, Brown might be another hot name on the market. The Celtics will surely have a gap year and try to dump contracts. The 2024 Finals MVP could be the player the Rockets need to get over the hump.
Other names out there include Lauri Markkanen, Devin Booker, Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson, and Cam Johnson. One thing is certain, with the amount of assets the Rockets have, they are poised to trade for a star. And with reports that teams are looking to get Cam Whitmore, it gives the Rockets more assets. Desire drives the price up.
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