Cam Whitmore's mini saga is something quite underreported, starting with an interesting couple responses in a presser and has ended tonight with a trade to the Washington Wizards. Whitmore's NBA career has been an interesting one to follow being buried on a deep young roster and having to scrap for minutes while being on of the most proficient scorers statistically in the league with 0.46 points per touch to falling to 20 in the draft after being a clear lottery level talent. Whitmore's story has been one of poor professionalism and an abundance of talent. but the kid is young and has a lot of room to grow and his talent shines and im sure he will grow in this Washington team where he can get consistent minutes and has vets in Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum to help him mature as a person and as a player. One day I would love to make an essay on the Cam Whitmore story if he ever breaks out, hopefully he will soon if not it could be a long time until we ever get that post. Anyway lets grade this trade!
Grade Explanation Post: https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/p/epTyDdsSXUgNRK/my-trade-grade-rankings-explained
Wizards: B
The wizards are one of the teams that just made a tonne of sense to buy into this trade. the wizards are in a season where the majority of the rotation likely doesn't return next year so this year is where you just throw shit at the wall and see what you have. test what archetypes work and use these competent players and veterans to play high level offence and let these young guys gain from it so buying into a guy with potential and trying to maximise him for this price and take on this contract is going to be useful for them. The picks they gave up are seconds but ones that are likely high up in their respective drafts. But I do like this for them, use these veterans to maximise Cam Whitmore's talents and see the full potential of his game and maybe you can integrate him into this growing core of young guys around him. What brings this slightly down is the professionalism concerns, taking Will Riley fully out of rotation (Prepare for the G League buddy) and it not being super cheap.
Rockets: B-
Don't think they did have a lot of choice here and I do think for these circumstances they got pretty good value back, is there more talent in this trade than the picks they got in return? sure there is but he's hurting the team by not wanting to be there, its another roster spot to get someone to help contend and your holding him back so you move him for a decent price, build up your pick stash again and you go to FA and find another depth piece, think this is a good job by them.