The Rockets have to pick this kid, regardless of fit. Move KPJ to another team, get a vet PG in here.
As a small wing? He cant play guard. He's only 6'6. He might be best suited as a microwave bench scorer and Im not taking that with a top 5 pick. Im not sure I see the same long term upside as some do with a guy who is a black hole on offense and small on defense for his responsibilities in the NBA. This coming from a pro Cam guy and one who's watched him since high school. He struggled in his one and done college year - sure injuries played a part, but he didnt show me much more than what he was doing the year before - taking the ball and forgetting about the other 4 guys around him. He's not THAT transcendent on offense IMO and not enough to forsake the further development of the other young guys we're already committed to.
I think you guys should go watch the passes Cam did make. There are dimes. Not a lot of them but it clearly shows an aptitude. Will not be as free reign here as he was at Villanova nor will he be the number one option. He has primary hand issues with injury. Consider that and look how he uses both hands really well. Speed, power and explosion. He will be fine at SG or SF and honestly with his stout profile he may be able to log some minutes is a small 4. 18 years old, and he has the most advanced offensive game with the ball in the draft. Ambidextrous and smooth with a multitude of well developed step backs and side steps. If we think we can teach Amen to hit 35% then he probably should be the pic, but I still see Cam as being an all star for multiple years. Im leaning Whitmore over Thompsons. If Whitmore had stayed in school he would be #1 next year. Again, he is 18.
I'd take Miller or Hendricks. I think its time to fully commit to Jalen, Jabari and Sengun and give them peripheral players that will elevate their game with their own strengths. I would like a symbiotic addition to the lineup.
So I've watched some lengthy breakdowns (from Spinella, No Ceilings, etc.)....and I didn't see this. I'm happy to re-evaluate if you have a good video or something I can use to change my mind though. But yeah, it seemed like he just *barely* made the most basic of passes, and only when he 100% accepted he couldn't score against the defense (a decision he rarely made). I guess that's better than *not* making those reads/passes, but I didn't see any super complex passes/reads. Given his age, and more importantly, given the amount of time he missed these last 3-5 years, *maybe* he can develop those skills. But based on what I've seen anyway, I don't know if we can say there's much to be hopeful for based purely on the passes we've seen him make. The rest of the your post I agree with though. I will say I'm struggling to figure out the best plan to develop Cam the best with our roster. On one hand, yes if you have a James Harden (or similar playmaker), you can just feed him for open 3s or on cuts to the basket. And he will feast while (hopefully) not being a ballstopper. Assume Ime and crew force him to either shoot or pass the ball back out immediately if he's not open. But I also think that kinda limits his offensive game. I've been blasting his BBIQ and lack of passing skills...but I think he has some potentially elite skills for breaking down defenders (and team defenses in general). I'm not sure how he can continue to develop that part of the game unless you...give him the ball and let him operate. I don't know if that will happen much with a James Harden, a Jalen Green, a KPJ, an Alperen Sengun...and a Dillon Brooks (yuck). Maybe the G league is a good option for Cam as well? Give him that 25-30 usage, but have him focus on making reads and kicking out to shooters when he gets a defense to collapse on his drives. Let him practice some floaters, mid range pull ups, etc. Once he shown some developmental progress there, bring him up...preferably after some roster churn (I won't say any names). Now he can *still* feast as a 3&D guy with elite finishing, but maybe he can also be a guy who breaks down the defense part of the time...and we don't have to worry about him trying to shoot against 3 defenders while Jabari is wide open in the corner. Maybe after Silas, I'm just a bit worried we'll send our top prospect into the corner and just have him stand there 90% of the time without any true development.
woah what a twist if true dang. Not sure about thie fit if Whitmore is here; he doesn't pass the ball and his A/T ratio is pretty bad. I am a fan of him for sure
the folks who don’t like him talk about being undersized and a lack of vision and passing. But he’s only freaking 18. He’s probably not done growing, and coming off a season where he was hurt early and had to try to carry a bad team….I think it’s reasonable to assume that can be corrected with good coaching and experience. The talent at that age is way too tantalizing to pass on. NBA body with real strength. And he has real 2-way potential. I buy the shot long term. Cam would be a great pick at #4 if we are out on the Thompson twins.
as opposed to adding guys who can't shoot on a team that has a list full of guys who can't. yeah I'll "pass" on that
I'm praying for no one but scoot (pls stone… trade up pls) scoot scoot scoot scoot scoot scoot scoot scoot scoot scoot scoot scoot
I like Amen too but his almost non existent shooting, questionable competition level, and I just feel like the one handed passes and whatnot he makes in these highlight videos would be picked off a lot and he already has so many TOs.
I heard someone compare him to Anthony Edwards. I like it, they do have similar size and athleticism.
Yea…exactly while a reluctant-to-shoot Ben Simmons is still comfortably lying in loads loads of greenback, im wondering which team will be the next one to recruit on a 'talent' who can't shoot.
