The Phoenix Suns have officially sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, where heāll play next season. But in what turned out to be one of the biggest trades in NBA history, there was one player who nearly left Houston as part of the deal.
While the Suns received six players and a draft pick ā already an unusual return ā the total could have been seven players if they hadnāt turned down one young Rockets player with just two years of experience who was almost included in the package.
Instead of taking the player, the Suns opted for a second-round draft pick ā a decision that might prove smart down the line. But the Rockets player had already shown flashes of promise, averaging 10.8 points per game and bringing some NBA playoff experience to the table.
So, who was the Rockets player the Suns passed on?
According to a report from Michael Scotto, the player was Cam Whitmore. He was on the list of names in the Durant deal, but the Suns preferred a future draft pick instead, seemingly unimpressed with what the young forward had shown in Houston.
āCam Whitmore was nearly traded to the Phoenix Suns in the Kevin Durant trade, league sources told HoopsHype. Instead, Phoenix opted for more future second-round draft pick compensation. He averaged 10.8 points in 17.4 minutes in two seasons for the Rockets and turns 21 on July 8,ā Scotto reported on X.
Whitmore was considered a value player
After the Suns declined to take him, the Rockets traded Whitmore to the Washington Wizards for a pair of future picks in the 2026 and 2029 drafts. He was on a four-year, $15 million contract ā making him a low-cost player with solid production through two seasons.
