At some point in Mar/April Cam just checked out. Dude went from shooting the ball every time he touches it, and looking sad on the bench. To joking around on the bench, and then passing up everything when he is in the game. This tells me he is done trying to contribute, and even the way he celebrates everything, it sort of seems fake because that's not how he was at the beginning of the year.
If Cam Whitmore wants to remain a Rocket this summer he better have the exit interview of his life with Ime Udoka after this season ends, and he must put his head down and fully buy in to whatever the coaches ask of him the entire offseason. This situation goes far beyond buy low and sell high like he’s in a shooting slump. He plays like an undisciplined chucker every time he gets minutes, and he’s lazy on defense far too often. That will not earn you minutes for any NBA coach. So, unless Whitmore wants to be stuck in the G-League next season, he needs a come to Jesus attitude change this offseason. Also, he’s near his last strike with Udoka and the coaching staff. Coaches only put up with so much selfish play and sulking when you don’t get minutes at the professional level.
or maybe they were confused why the Warriors were pressing trying to steal the ball when the game was clearly over and we were trying to run the the clock out?
Cam would love to be traded to a crap team that will give him the minutes. The only problem is I don’t see the Rockets trading him for less than a FRP, because he was one and he obviously has potential. I’m not worried about him being poison in the locker room. Guys at the long end of the bench don’t have that kind of influence. He needs to put his head down and really have a great off-season and nail next pre-season to get his trade value up to a future frp. I don’t really see a spot for him on this team.
Im not willing to say it’s all on Cam the reason things are the way they are. It takes someone to truly believe in you and give you a real opportunity just as much as it is on him to be ready. I don't know all the details or have all the insight but as a fan I want to see him contribute to the team. He definitely hasn’t had the long leash that others have had on this team. It’s just very unfortunate overall no matter the reason because his skill set could take this team to another level.
I’m not really a fan of trading him for nothing. I’m not at all worried about his attitude rubbing off on others, He doesn’t have the standing on the team to negatively impact them. He doesn’t have a role on this team and his attitude makes it difficult to trade him. He should show he is willing to put the work in this off-season and prove it in the pre-season to elevate his trade value to a future frp. If he does that, he can be sent to a team that will give him minutes. He’s not getting them here as long as Dillon, Jarbari, and Tari are on the team. Ime obviously is very annoyed at Cam, so he may really pressure the FO to get rid of him for a bag of peanuts.
He's likely gone this summer. I think he's got a ton of potential, but the minutes simply aren't there. Even Jabari struggles occasionally to get playing time and he's a critical part of the rotation. And it could possibly get worse this offseason. What if the Rockets take another guard or wing player with the Suns pick?
Why do you think he hasn’t had the long leash? Could it be attitude? Could it be their experience with said long leash given to KPJ? With all the shooting problems this team has had do you seriously think Ime wouldn’t play him if he was doing what he needs to do off the court?
I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that Ime would do that. But I also don’t think everyone else on this team is just a saint and does everything the right way off the court. As a coach part of the job is managing personalities and sometimes you have to take a different approach with certain players. Look at Dennis Rodman who was a fool off the court and yet he was given opportunities and had people around him that knew he could contribute so they dealt with him differently.
Rodman was an amazing defender and rebounder who always hustled and didn't care about scoring. Cam is a lazy end of the bench ballhog who doesn't even know what defense is. Those two shouldn't even be in the same sentence unless Cam starts cross dressing
My point is there are examples of exceptions being made for certain players and their off court issues (whether it be attitude or work ethic) where they still were given minutes in games. I’m not even saying Cam should get a big chunk of time but to say he can’t get a few minutes to utilize his skill set of scoring when the team struggles in that area is kind of crazy.
I understand your point but those excellent are typically made for stars or players vital to the teams success. I certainly don't agree with everything that Ime does and think we need to bring in an offensive ouch to help him next season but I don't see how Cam can help honestly. He doesn't play defense, is a ballhog and is lazy. This has always been the knock on him. He doesn't listen and is a me first player. I'm sure that translates to practice too
What his....DESIRE TO PLAY and dominate attitude, yeah that would suck if wallflowers like Green would get infected with it. DD
Cam Whitmore is a SF not a SG. Cam cannot move laterally on Defense at SG, and doesn't fight over picks, or even cares about defense. Cam isn't focused on Defense and Passing. Only thinks about going to the rim over and over getting predictable. Turnover or gets blocked, doesn't run back gives up a layup. In The Offense, Cam only plays for his own points. Cam ignores the open man drives into the Center chest gets blocked or turnover doesn't run back on Defense, gets benched by Ime Udoka for weeks. In Miami a Viral picture appeared with 2 random women with Cam. So Cam will be gone in a trade hopefully for a Draft Trade or another package.
