After months of buzz that the Rockets were a leading suitor for the Milwaukee Bucks‘ Giannis Antetokounmpo, they made the splash many anticipated dating back to last trade deadline and even before by acquiring Kevin Durant from Phoenix. In a masterful piece of work, Houston held on to all its young talent except guard Jalen Green, who has been in the league for four years now. By getting Durant, though, they’ve created a backlog at the forward positions.
Between KD, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith, Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore, there simply isn’t enough playing time to go around. Bucks expert Van Fayaz of Brew Hoop believes Milwaukee can capitalize on this scenario using its $7.2 million trade exception to go after Whitmore. But what would they have to give up?
Cam Whitmore Will Be Stunted in Houston
Whitmore’s salary puts him well within the range of Milwaukee’s trade exception: he makes $3.5 million in 2025-26, with a $5.5 million team option the year after. For a player of his potential, that is a very club-friendly deal.
Last season, though, his second in the league, Whitmore took a step back – at least statistically speaking. His points fell to 9.4 per game alongside decreased playing time. Even without Durant on the roster, he saw only 16 minutes a night in 51 games. The former 20th overall pick from Villanova retains promise, but he might not have a chance to grow in Houston.
Listed at 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, Whitmore has a strong, solid build but is also agile, at times acrobatic. He can create for himself and score off the bounce, though he has room to improve as a facilitator (0.8 career assists per game). His rebounding numbers don’t jump off the page (career 3.4 RPG), but his volume stats are naturally suppressed due to limited floor-time.
One thing he would need to work on in order to fit in Milwaukee is his three-point shooting. While Whitmore shot a serviceable 35.5% last season, that isn’t good enough to be a reliable perimeter threat. As the Bucks space the floor around Giannis Antetokounmpo, slick sniping should be a high-priority consideration for all acquisitions, in trades, free agency, or the draft.
Should Milwaukee Bucks Bite?
Much like the Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, Whitmore is hardly a player the front office should splurge on. Fayaz notes that some NBA folks view him as “a role player at best.” Not the kind of dude the Bucks should break the bank for.
Upside is the reason to pursue Whitmore. “Some around the league see a future All-Star,” says Fayaz, who also notes that the conflicting opinions “make it difficult to pin down his trade value.” Due to Houston’s rotation backlog, he suggests that a single first-round pick could do the job.
Is that a deal the Bucks should consider? Seeing that Whitmore himself was selected 20th, and has shown solid rotation but not yet All-Star abilities, sending out an unprotected 2031 or 2032 first seems a bit rich.
Depending on how bad the Bucks are, either could be lottery picks. Even trading one as lottery-protected only covers the first four selections. For a player like Whitmore who has not proven to be starter-caliber, the Bucks would be wise to include further protections – top 8, say, accounting for another four spots.
Given that the Rockets refused to send out any youngsters in the Durant deal, would they part with Whitmore for a protected first? That’s anyone’s guess. Maybe not. For the Bucks, though, sacrificing a bit of value – a top 8 pick for an ex-20th – is worth the immediate contributions Whitmore would provide during Giannis’ prime.
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