The Houston Rockets took the big swing ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft that fans were expecting as the franchise acquired future Hall of Fame forward Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and draft capital.
With Durant now calling Houston home, coupled with several other key, young pieces on the roster remaining in place, there will be a scramble for minutes in Ime Udoka's rotation. With that being the case, one recent draft pick is already drawing attention from the rest of the league in hopes that Rafael Stone and the Rockets' front office aren't done making trades this offseason.
If Stone and company can find the right offer, fans in Houston should expect to see some more trades to be made as the offseason unfolds.
Rockets SF Cam Whitmore Likely on Trade Block After Round 1 of Draft
With Durant in place, finding minutes for recent first-round pick Cam Whitmore will be more difficult than it was this past season. There is no doubt about the talent Whitmore possesses; the fact that he slipped to Houston in the 2023 NBA Draft was a gift for the Rockets.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN.com, Whitmore is a popular name across the league and could deliver a strong return for the franchise as a result. Given the approach they will have to take to maximize their potential title window with Durant, finding the best possible return for a player like Whitmore would make a lot of sense.
"There's a contract that they have as well—a player in Cam Whitmore, young player with talent that has gotten interest around the league as well," Charania said during an appearance on ESPN's Get Up. "That's someone that you could, if you're the Rockets, you could potentially move him for draft capital or a player that can help you now."
As much of a gift it was for Whitmore to fall into Houston's lap on draft night two summers ago, time is running out for the franchise to see any real returns on that investment, and with Durant now in the fold, the likelihood that happens this coming season seems slim. Whitmore's minutes per game decreased this past season, and that will not change if he is on the roster to start the 2025-26 campaign.
Despite the young core in place, the Rockets are officially in win-now mode after acquiring Durant, and the rest of their roster has to be viewed in the same light if they are to achieve their goal of bringing another Larry O'Brien Trophy to Houston.