Consolidation trade for sure needs to happen with the guys further down the rotation. It is so good that Eric Gordon turned into Cam Whitmore. Now it is on Udoka to get Whitmore's perspective in order and on Sullivan to fix Amen's broken shot.
I was having dinner with a friend, and casually checked the #20 pick, expecting it to be some guy I haven't heard of. I saw "#20 Cam Whitmore" I was like uhhh...wasn't he like a top 5 pick at one point? WTF is going on LOL No complaints here!
Not gonna lie, i'd like to see him under Ime too, but we have too many players now and i fear how a change of role would affect KPJ mentally. He'd be one hell of a sixth man.
I suspect what ended up happening is that other rebuilding teams (Detroit, Orlando, Washington, Indiana) talked themselves into liking other specific prospects better. Ausar Thompson, Anthony Black, and Jarace Walker are understandable--some teams really value high IQ guys like those three, and it's not like their physical tools are that much worse than Whitmore's (Ausar's and Walker's might arguably be better). Coulibaly was a weird one, but there's always one weird overdraft in the top 10. Once he slipped past those teams, he fell into the range where the teams probably didn't even work him out and just assumed he'd be off the board, and those front offices probably started questioning what came up in workouts and second-guessing his spot on their boards. Also, a very young one-and-done with iffy feel for the game isn't a good fit once you start talking about teams like Los Angeles and Miami who are trying to make it back to the Finals.
They got both of them because Amen has the lowest floor among first round prospects and Cam scared teams away with his injury concerns and immaturity so teams ahead of the Rockets went different directions. It's not a mystery.
It’s this simple, if Whitmore works hard and listens to coach, he’s going to be a big-time nba player. That’s a big if, but there’s no reason to assume he won’t maximize his potential. I have zero info on the Medical, which can legit impact a guy’s career, but he is only 18; you’d like to think any issues could be addressed through medical science. At #20 it’s probably the best value pick of the draft.
There is no question why they got Amen. But Cam was basically considered a top 10 prospect by any scout, and several had him even in the top 3. Injury concerns (at least the ones we know about) and immaturity (and remember, we are talking about a 18 year old kid) are a reason for a slide, but down to 20? No team willing to take a chance on a potential star? That's a headscratcher for me. But we will see, if the league looks dumb in a year, or if they had a good reason to stay away.
Curious what concerns you have with him being a "tweener." I haven't heard anyone make that criticism since 3andD+switchability took over the league.
