The Milwaukee Bucks need to get younger, more athletic, and much more explosive this offseason. With The Athletic's Kelly Iko reporting that a handful of teams have inquired about the availability of Houston Rockets wing Cam Whitmore, who is still just 20 years old after being selected 20th in the 2023 NBA Draft, it would make sense if the Bucks were among those calling.
The Milwaukee Bucks should monitor Whitmore's availability
Whitmore has the type of athleticism that doesn't grow on trees. The 6-foot-7 forward can jump out of the gym at any given moment, possessing quite the highlight reel. Right off the bat, he's the type of high-energy, athletic transition threat this team needs next to Giannis Antetokounmpo. His athletic ability can help him in other regards, but he's still working out the kinks.
Beyond the physical traits, Whitmore is solid statistically. During his first two years, he's averaged an eye-catching 10.8 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 35.7 percent from deep. He possesses the potential to be a strong scoring threat from multiple levels. Defensively, he has room to grow, but his frame and athleticism could help him develop into a versatile chess piece on that end in time.
At 20, it's no surprise that Whitmore is still pretty raw, especially considering that the Rockets haven't fully embraced him in the rotation. In fact, Iko reports that the lack of a defined role has resulted in some displeasure on Whitmore's end. The young forward needs to be in a place where he can spread his wings, and the athlete-hungry Milwaukee Bucks could certainly take a flyer on him.
While teams are eying Cam Whitmore, Iko makes it clear that there has been no trade request at the time of this writing and that the two sides are hoping to come to a resolution. Of course, things can always change in the blink of an eye when it comes to NBA rumors, so that is not set in stone. If the Rockets do end up fielding offers for their promising 20-year-old at any point, the Bucks should call.
This team needs young pieces to develop as they potentially aim to focus on depth over big names this coming summer, and Whitmore fits the bill. Only time will tell how the Milwaukee Bucks decide to address their glaring need for more legitimate athletes.
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