Solution to Rockets' Cam Whitmore problem has never been more obvious

The Houston Rockets and Cam Whitmore have not gotten off to a good start.

Perhaps it would always be this way. Whitmore was expecting to land on a lottery team. When the Pistons selected Ausar Thompson, his future became unclear. From there, nobody knew how far in the draft Whitmore might slip.

He fell into the Rockets' lap at 20th overall.

It felt like a blessing in disguise. Whitmore would have the luxury of developing on a win-now team. Instead, it's looked like the worst thing that could have happened to his career.

Whitmore is immensely talented, but he's deeply flawed. This isn't a player who can help a team with title aspirations. Whitmore needs time to develop.

The Rockets should send him somewhere that's prioritizing development.

Whitmore drawing interest on trade market

They may have that opportunity.

It's being reported that Whitmore is drawing trade interest around the league. The Athletic's Kelly Iko says teams are calling about him (subscription needed). It's worth noting that he also says Whitmore has not initiated those discussions.

"At this stage, neither Whitmore nor his representation has requested a trade and both sides are hopeful of finding a solution."

-Kelly Iko, The Athletic

That's good. A trade request will always weaken a player's value. The fact that Whitmore is apparently willing to see his time with Houston through is positive.

The Rockets' front office ought to move him, whether he wants to leave or not.

Rockets' Whitmore would be better off elsewhere

It should be said that Whitmore is developing.

As a rookie, he averaged 1.35 assists per 75 possessions. Last year, he got up to 2.1. That's a meaningful gain.

It shouldn't be enough for the Rockets.

Imagine you want your child to go to an Ivy League school. They're a straight F student. A report card full of C-'s would be a major improvement, but that kid still isn't close to Harvard.

The point is that Whitmore remains a woefully selfish player on offense. This should not be perceived as a hit piece. Whitmore is just 20 years old. He's proven himself to be a natural three-level scorer. Whitmore has potential.

He belongs on a team that's willing to invest in it.

It's not just his poor passing that's problematic. Whitmore often appears lost on defense. He'll only resolve these issues with reps. Whitmore belongs on a team that's more focused on development than wins.

It's hard to say what his value is, but the Rockets could certainly get something for him. A lightly protected future first-round pick or a low-usage veteran feels like a reasonable target. If the Rockets don't move him this summer and don't change his role next year, those will suddenly become pie-in-the-sky suggestions.

His relationship with the team will have only worsened.