Suns will immediately kick themselves for failure in Kevin Durant -Trade

The return package of the Phoenix Suns in the Kevin Durant -trade was not in accordance with what they could have received, but they wanted a choice in the design. Their wish was given when they received the no. 10 Pick, who turned out to be Duke Center Kaman Maluach. He is the second of the two young players who received the Suns (sorry, Dillon), but they could have had a third.

Michael Scotto van Hoopshype reported that Cam Whitmore “Almost” was traded to the Suns in the KD deal, but Phoenix preferred more picks in the second round. The Suns received a total of five picks of the second round.

The rockets exchanged Whitmore to the wizards for two picks in the second round. It was a low risk, high-balance movement for Washington, a team that has nothing to lose by playing Whitmore. It is actually a good move for Whitmore. He will prove himself in a reconstruction team, instead of fighting minutes for a fighting team.

However, it is not logical why Phoenix Whitmore did not want. He is 21 and spent two seasons in Houston after the organization prepared him with the number 20 Pick in the 2023 design. He is expected to become a lottery choice, but slipped the concept board due to injury problems and his pre-Draft interviews.

Whitmore on average 10.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists per match in its two seasons with the missiles, 44.9% shoot out of the field and 35.5% of three. His playing time (on average 17.4 minutes per game in Houston) should rise in Washington, just like his production.

Suns could regret the picks of the second round above cam Whitmore

Whitmore could eventually become an all-star type of player, or at least a player mentioned in that conversation. Or he could become a flop. Phoenix did not damn his future by not taking Whitmore, but for a team that does not have much of a future, it is not logical why the Suns did not rock him.

They are not loaded with future tensile assets (shoutout mat Ishbia), so a kite on a 21-year-old would be useful. The Suns now want to try to win with Devin Booker, but that is not a solution that fans can expect. Maluach is not ready, so adding a young scorer to the roster like Whitmore would not hurt during Phoenix’s attempt at a play-off push.

Phoenix and Washington are in two different situations, but as Whitmore thrives with the wizards, it will be a reminder for the suns of what could have been. He could become an important part of the future of Washington, a future that looks better than that of Phoenix, for what it is worth.

Not having Whitmore will not make or break the season of the Suns, but the decision to prioritize the second round of draft compensation can be one of the spots on Brian Gregory’s GM CV.