Former Rockets first-round pick may be on the move again

The Washington Wizards took a flyer on former Rockets first-round pick Cam Whitmore this offseason, and it was widely viewed as one of the best upside additions of the summer. Whitmore flashed star talent in Houston, but never fully bought into his role, and the relationship ended somewhat unceremoniously after he was dealt for two future second-round picks.

Even in Washington, where Whitmore was presumed to have a neon green light to shoot the ball on a team with far more questions than answers, the talented wing can't find a real footing. He's averaging a career low in points through 21 games, and with the Wizards in full asset acquisition mode, it wouldn't be crazy to see him shipped elsewhere in the next few months, especially with recent reporting from Grant Afseth of rg.org that Whitmore's practice habits are leaving something to be desired in DC.

It's a bit of deja vu from the situation that unfolded just a couple months ago. And if he does get shopped at the deadline — this is all speculation right now — whatever team sells themselves on his upside might be falling into the same trap the Wizards did.

Cam Whitmore has not panned out how Wizards expected

The world won't end for the Wizards if Whitmore's production never matches his talent. Again, they spent two second-rounders to get him, and teams can buy second-round picks any time they want.

For Whitmore, though, it's not a great sign that he's on his second stop in three seasons, and there have been questions about his fit and buy-in at both. He's going to keep getting chances in the NBA; when a player is as talented as he is, teams will kick the tires for years. But this is an inauspicious start to his NBA tenure, and it sounds like he shoulders most of the blame for that.

As for which team would be interested in Whitmore at this stage... I'm not sure. If you made me guess what type of team it would be, I'd say a fringe playoff team that doesn't want to sacrifice too much for as volatile a player as Whitmore, but who thinks a dynamic (hypothetical) scorer like Whitmore could bring some punch off the pine. Can I interest you, Cam, in Phoenix? How about Memphis? Maybe the better question is whether anyone could be interested in Cam Whitmore at this point.