With Peyton Watson landing in Cleveland, the Milwaukee Bucks' pursuit of him is over. Yet, their hunt for another body on the wing should not end just yet, especially given the availability of a player who may hit the market after the trade. Speaking about the five-team deal, ESPN's Bobby Marks says the Cavaliers will soon waive-and-stretch Cam Whitmore to clear money for James Harden.
If Whitmore does indeed hit the open market, the Bucks could make plenty of sense as a suitor after they just missed out on Watson.
Whitmore could fill Bucks' small forward gap
Following the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, the two targets most commonly linked to the Bucks were Peyton Watson and Jonathan Kuminga. Milwaukee's forward positions are the most uncertain on the entire roster, so it makes plenty of sense for the team to try to beef up that spot. If they miss out on Kuminga as they did on Watson, Whitmore would be a decent pivot.
Just three years ago, the forward was a first-round pick, and he's still just 22 years old. His time in the NBA hasn't gone quite according to plan, with turbulent roles in Houston and Washington impeding his progress, but his potential has always been on display. In his three NBA seasons, the forward has averaged 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, showing signs of solid two-way play.
With their youth movement underway, the Milwaukee Bucks would benefit from adding a first-round talent and strengthening a position that is thin. It would be the ultimate buy-low move.
There is one elephant in the room, though
If Whitmore is indeed waived, the Milwaukee Bucks don't exactly have the roster room to sign him to a deal outright. Sure, they can carry extra bodies in the summer, but pretty soon, they must make cuts to trim the roster to 15 standard players. Currently, they sit at 17 and don't have a set in stone solution to get it down to the allowed number. Adding Whitmore would complicate matters further.
Yet, if the Milwaukee Bucks want to bet on young talent, this is a move worth exploring. If they gift Whitemore a chance to play consistently, perhaps they could reap the rewards that teams like the Rockets and the Wizards could not. Milwaukee's title window isn't wide open right now, so they should be looking to add many reclamation projects and see who pans out.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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