After a rough first game, the Rockets’ season is off to a promising start. But one promising young player might start better in the G League. It’s not that they aren’t an NBA-level talent. The Rockets’ rotation is just too tight for them to get the run that they need like they would in the G League. To wit, more minutes is more opportunity to grow.
Should Rockets Send Promising Player To The G League?
Second-year Rocket Cam Whitmore has only played over 20 minutes once so far this season, over 10 just three times. In the Rockets’ latest win over their rivals, the San Antonio Spurs, Whitmore didn’t play until garbage time. NBA garbage time is basically a mini G League where the games are two to twelve minutes long. If it’s a case of one or the other, he might as well average 26.2 points and chuck over ten threes a game again, as he did with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2023-24.
Whitmore’s Rough Start
Whitmore’s chief problem this season is that his shot has abandoned him. He has only made a single three-pointer on 18 attempts. Of course, Whitmore has a whole tribe of problems when it comes to reading the game. His real-time understanding of team basketball was never considered one of his strengths, even before his unexpected slide down the 2023 draft. That’s not the case for head coach Ime Udoka‘s other options.
After his return from injury, the Rockets’ coaching staff rediscovered their love of Tari Eason precisely because of his contrast with Whitmore on this issue. Eason always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He rarely tries to do too much, and he’s always locked in on defense. Whitmore has the same aggression and explosiveness but suffers from extreme tunnel vision. Rockets fans hope there’s a light at the end of that tunnel and Whitmore can figure it out. But riding the bench isn’t going to get him there.
Playing in the G League might not help much with Whitmore’s ability to read the game at an NBA level either. The pace of play is much faster there, and mistakes are far more common. But Whitmore could still be a useful player for this current Rockets squad, even with his shaky reads. That is if he could remember how to shoot. The G League is the perfect place for him to do that.
Rockets or the G League
The Rockets have plenty of sub-rotation depth to handle in-game hiccups like foul trouble. Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday, and champion role-player Jeff Green are all itching for opportunities to see the floor. In the event of something more serious like an injury, Whitmore could be recalled and plugged into a rotation role.
Of course, Whitmore on the bench is obviously still a luxury for the Rockets. If they wanted to rest one of their other wings for a game, Whitmore would be right there to step up. But that might not be what’s best for Whitmore himself. He needs consistent floor time. With enough in-game repetitions, his shot should come back online. But if he’s not going to get them with the Rockets, he might as well get them with the Vipers in the G League.
Whitmore might feel he’s served his time in the G League after last season. Not only did he dominate while he was there, but he was very effective for the Rockets after his triumphant return. However, the opportunity existed primarily because of the Eason injury. There were even more wing minutes available after star center Alperen Sengun went down, and the team turned to small ball.
Whitmore Goes to the G League… Then What?
Frankly, even if Eason does rediscover his shot in the G League, it’s not completely clear whose minutes he would take upon his return. The team’s veteran leader, Fred VanVleet, has possibly broken out of his early slump (although he has stopped taking threes in doing so). Nonetheless, VanVleet leading the team in minutes might not be sustainable and certainly isn’t desirable. But the obvious recipient of those minutes would be rookie point guard Reed Sheppard.
Sheppard is another player who could theoretically benefit from some development time and confidence-building in the lower league. However, Sheppard’s skill set is in more obvious demand than Whitmore’s. With the likes of Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson, the Rockets have plenty of aggressive, athletic wing players while VanVleet and Sheppard are their only real point guards.
Whitmore screams potential every second he spends on a basketball court. He has superstar qualities. His rim finishes on the break or even in traffic are gut punches. His shot still looks good. Another coach might play him despite everything. But Udoka isn’t and it’s understandable, probably even correct given his other options.
The Last Word
If Whitmore can be convinced of the benefits of another stint in the G League, and properly assured that the franchise still has confidence in him, then it would be the best thing for him and the team. If he can’t, and such a move would create resentment, then the team might do it anyway and live with the consequences. So much young talent on a win-now team is bound to lead to problems at some point. Whitmore wants to win like everybody else. He just might have to win somewhere else again for a little bit first.
