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Based on the latest trade report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks may have missed a chance to cheaply acquire young talent. While trading for Kevin Durant was a homerun for Houston, it clogged the depth chart at the forward spots. Young players like Tari Eason, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith, and Cam Whitmore all occupied the roster beaks-open for playing time like a ravenous nest of fledglings. The Rockets committed to Smith with a five-year extension and established further clarity Saturday by flipping Whitmore to the Wizards for a pair of second-rounders. Earlier urged to consider Whitmore as a target, did the Bucks fumble a great low-cost opportunity?
Cam Whitmore Is Low-Cost, High-Upside Add For Wizards
There have been no reports that the Bucks were seriously engaged in any kind of Whitmore trade talks. Still, Brew Hoop’s team expert Van Fayaz advised that they keep an eye on him. Fayaz proposed a transaction involving a single first-round pick. While some may consider that a bit too much, the actual trade suggests that a first would not have been necessary.
Of course, all such hypothesizing came before the Bucks started making real-life moves, re-signing key names and swinging for Myles Turner. To clear cap space for him, they sent out their 2031 and 2032 second-rounders alongside Pat Connaughton in a salary dump deal with Charlotte. (They got back Vasilije Micic, who is expected to give back most of his salary in a buyout and return to Europe.)
In the aftermath, Milwaukee is no longer desperate for rotation pieces. They have only a few roster spots left, with Ryan Rollins still unsigned in free agency.
Still, the 6-foot-7 Whitmore is a natural wing, one of the roles the Bucks have yet to fill. In a down sophomore season, he averaged 9.4 points and three rebounds in 16 minutes per game. Although back-shelved in Houston, the former first-round pick has intriguing growth potential. If his price tag is two seconds, could the Bucks have gotten him for a 2031 first-round swap?
The above wouldn’t be a bad investment to obtain an immediate contributor with an All-Star ceiling. That swapped pick might end up being a good one, but signing Turner established that the Bucks are going all-in on competing during Giannis Antetokounmpo’s prime.
Milwaukee Bucks Likely Had Resources To Do Deal
It’s worth noting that Washington’s picks are more valuable than most second-rounders, especially if they come from drafts near in the future. Mired in a rebuild, the Wizards should be still be bad for some time. Even many of the second-round picks they own from other teams in the near future project to be decent. Which ones they gave Houston is as yet unreported.
After the Connaughton deal, the Bucks don’t have two seconds to spare. While predicting the NBA is impossible, based on franchise trajectory Houston is likely the better team six or seven years down the road. In place of the second-rounders, a first-round swap would offer good value for both sides.
Instead, it’s Washington who acquires the talents of the nearly 21-year-old. Perhaps Whitmore was never a realistic option for the Bucks. They can, however, secure some young talent of their own by re-signing Rollins.
Yes, general manager Jon Horst. You need to hear about it until a deal gets done.
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