The NBA season is officially over, and the Oklahoma City Thunder were crowned the champions after a hard-fought battle against the Indiana Pacers. For teams like the Houston Rockets, the team to catch up and beat next season and in the foreseeable future will be the OKC Thunder.
The Rockets took a big step towards that goal by trading for Kevin Durant. Without giving up their most important assets, Houston was able to acquire a true difference maker in KD, giving them a much higher ceiling for next season.
At the same time, the Durant trade meant that the Rockets gave up two starters and acquired one, opening up a ton of playing time. This provides an excellent opportunity for the young players further down in the rotation.
Cam Whitmore Has a Lot to Prove to Avoid Getting Traded
Near the top of that list is Cam Whitmore. The talented swingman has shown flashes in his first two years in the league, but hasn't been able to establish himself as a key part of the rotation due to the crowded Rockets rotation. He is a good scorer and an athlete, and has defensive upside that is intriguing for a 20-year-old.
However, the pressure will be on him to perform in his third year. The Rockets now have championship aspirations and will have less appetite to develop players. Whitmore will either have to demonstrate that he can play high-level basketball on a title contender, or will be included in a trade.
The Rockets could still move on from Whitmore this offseason, without even seeing whether he is ready to contribute in the 2025-26 season. The KD trade accelerated the team's timeline, and if the Rockets can get a starter-caliber shooting guard or a small forward, Whitmore will likely have to be included in that deal due to his trade value. Unless he proves that he belongs on this team and can play a rotation role, Whitmore will continue to be on thin ice in Houston.