Durant s Countdown to Win the Championship: Rockets are desperate to gamble, Whitmore may become a victim of the trade

Houston Rockets' management is taking the countdown to win the championship window of 37-year-old Durant as its action program, and the future of young player Whitmore is hanging on the line.

"Cam Whitmore's name has become the focus of many trade discussions recently." Rockets senior team reporter Kelly Iko wrote in his latest report on June 28. The 20-year-old forward's Houston career was hanging on the line as he sweated heavily in the Rockets training hall.

Rockets management did not stop after completing Durant's blockbuster deal. They rejected VanVleet's $44.9 million team option next season, and instead re-signed the point guard for two years, freeing up $14.1 million in full middle-class special case. Then he cut center Landale and released another $8 million in salary space.

Durant effect

When the Rockets completed the trade against Durant before draft night, Houston's championship blueprint was instantly reconstructed. The 37-year-old super scorer raised the team's ceiling to the championship level, but the Rockets' management's operating rhythm has also accelerated.

Durant's joining solved the Rockets' last scoring ability at critical moments last season. The all-time scorer still averaged 27.1 points per game during the Suns last season, shooting 41.3% from three-pointers.

But time waits for no one. Durant's new contract will expire in the summer of 2026, and the Rockets' championship window is clearly limited to the next two seasons.

In the Durant trade, the Rockets sent out several rotation players, and the lineup depth gap was missing. In particular, the outside projection ability has become a key link that the Rockets urgently need to strengthen.

"The Rockets only need to add an outside pitcher like Kennard and find a reliable point guard." Lachard Binkley, a reporter with the team, pointed out the Rockets' reinforcement direction.

Whitmore's Value and Dilemma

Whitmore, who was selected at the 20th pick in the first round of 2023, has a coveted talent. The height of 2.01 meters and a strong physique of 107 kilograms, coupled with top athletic ability, make him a young wing with development potential on both offense and defense.

Whitmore showed his explosive scoring power in limited opportunities. In his sophomore season, he averaged 16.2 minutes per game, contributing 9.4 points and 3.0 rebounds, shooting 44.4% from the field and 35.5% from three-point shooting.

But behind these numbers is the cruel reality: he averaged 2.5 minutes less playing time than his rookie season, and he only got three starts throughout the season.

Whitmore's position in the Rockets' existing lineup is quite embarrassing. The team has seven core rotations: VanVleet, Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabarry Smith Jr., Shinkyung, Tari Ethan and Steven Adams. Fierce competition in the wing positions makes it difficult for Whitmore to obtain stable playing time.

What is more important is the time node. Whitmore will be eligible for renewal after the end of the 2025-26 season, and young forwards urgently need opportunities to play to prove their worth. The Rockets' "win in the present" model around Durant cannot provide him with an ideal growth environment.

The birth of trading chips

On June 27, the famous reporter Shams Charania clearly listed Whitmore as a trading candidate for the Rockets: "Whitmore is a talented young player who has attracted attention in the league. If you are the Rockets, you can trade him for draft capital or a player who can help you immediately."

The Rockets' management has been moving frequently, and the release of cap space is simultaneously promoted with the trading discussion. Van Vleet's salary cut and contract renewal directly created a full-time special case for the Rockets $14.1 million, which is an extremely attractive bargaining chip in the free agent market.

The operation of cutting Landal further released $8 million in space, and the Rockets' reinforcement ammunition is becoming increasingly sufficient. These actions all point to one goal: to build an instant combat lineup around Durant.

Salary expert Bobby Marks specifically pointed out the name of Lakers forward Finney Smith when he mentioned the specific reinforcement direction in Shams's program, believing that he can become an instant combat choice for the Rockets' wings.

Rockets' reinforcement target

The tactical board of the Rockets management clearly presents the reinforcement priority: the outside projection ability becomes the most critical puzzle. After having ball-holding threats like Durant and Amen Thompson, the importance of the outside shooter group has been raised to a strategic level.

Kennard's name appears on the Rockets' signing radar many times. The 28-year-old shooter has an amazing career three-point shooting percentage - 43.8%, and has a three-point shooting percentage of more than 40% for seven consecutive seasons. Last season, with the Grizzlies, he averaged 2.1 three-pointers per game with a 43.3% three-point shooting percentage, perfectly meeting the needs of the Rockets.

Another mentioned target is Leville. The 30-year-old double-season guard averaged 14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists in the Hawks last season, with a shooting percentage of 48.2%. He can solve the problem of the Rockets' bench lacking offensive organizers, and his salary of $16.62 million is considered to be a good value for money.

If the Rockets can get Kennard and Leville at the same time, their outside firepower and second-team organization problems will be solved. And Whitmore is likely to become the main bargaining chip in exchange for these instant combat power.

The all-out championship ambition

The Rockets' operations point to a clear goal: to maximize Durant's chances of winning the championship in his remaining peak period. Management understands that when a historic star reaches the age of 37, the winning window may close faster than expected.

Among the Western Powers, the Rockets' actions are not an isolated case. The Warriors had almost brought Durant back to Golden State, but failed due to Durant's small-groupist disagreement with Curry Green. The Warriors turned to sign Butler and continued to maintain the championship lineup. This arms race forces the Rockets to do their best.

Whitmore's trading value reaches its high point at this time. He is still in the rookie contract period (expired after the 2026-27 season), and this extremely cost-effective contract, coupled with the potential he has shown, makes it an attractive trading asset for other teams. The Rockets' championship lineup has taken shape. Point guard Van Vleet, shooting guard Amen Thompson, small forward Durant, power forward Jabbarry Smith Jr., center Shin Kyung, and strong players such as Ethan and Adams were on the bench. If Whitmore can be exchanged for high-quality pitchers, the Rockets' lineup will complete the final upgrade. The cap space operation of the

Rockets are like precise military operations. VanVleet's salary cut and renewal created $14.1 million in space, and laying off Landale and releasing another $8 million. These numbers translate into clear paths on General Manager Raphael Stone’s tactical board: Equipping Durant with more shooters. The team's attention is on the free market. Kennard's three-point shooting percentage of more than 40% for seven consecutive seasons has made the Rockets excited, and Leville's ball-holding ability has also entered the consideration range. Salary expert Bobby Marks recommends turning his attention to the Lakers' Finney Smith.

Whitmore, the young man who couldn't find stable time in the Rockets' crowded wing position, became the best bargaining chip in exchange for immediate combat power. The Rockets management is taking a desperate bet on Durant's final two-year championship window.