Thanks to the Rockets Trading! I don t hate Uduka, Whitmore admitted his mistake, he has been holding this for 2 years

Although the Rockets have lost their important player Van Vleet, the team's lineup is still very competitive and their overall strength cannot be underestimated. The starting lineup can include a combination of Shepard, Amen Thompson, Jabbarry Smith, Durant and Shin Kyung. This combination is both offense and defense, and has both talent and experience. On the bench, the Rockets also have a deep lineup reserve, including Okogie, Ethan, Electric Fan, Adams, Holiday, Tate, Jeff Green and Capela. They can also stand up at critical moments and provide stable contributions to the team. It can be said that they have been armed to the teeth.

If Shepard enters the start, the Rockets should make Tate the backup point guard, not Holiday. What is little known is that Tate was positioned as a defender when he first joined the Rockets. He even won double-double data in the game, showing excellent versatility. However, Tate has not played much time in the past few seasons, which has made many fans feel sorry for him. Now the Rockets are strong and have hope of rising again. Looking back at the Rockets' young core lineup, there are only five people left in the "Seven Rockets" now. Green was traded for Durant, and this deal can be said to be a major reinforcement from both offense and defense. Durant's addition greatly improved the Rockets' competitiveness.

However, Whitmore's departure made fans feel a little regretful. As a player with great potential, Whitmore has shown outstanding abilities on the offensive end, averaging 12.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, shooting 45% from the field and 36% from three-point shooting percentage. His scoring efficiency is impressive and his defensive end has the potential to be a top defender. Unfortunately, due to personality problems and lack of attitude, Whitmore failed to gain a full foothold in the Rockets' system and was eventually traded to the Washington Wizards. The Rockets' handling of Whitmore reflects the team's human touch. Stone rejected more generous offers from multiple teams and chose to send Whitmore to his hometown team, Wizards, hoping that he could get a starting opportunity there and realize his full potential.

Whitmore talked about the deal in an interview at the Wizards' media day in recent days. He admitted that the Rockets traded him to the Wizards as a way to show him more freedom because it gave him the opportunity to become a main player. He is grateful for the Rockets' two-year training and said that his time with the Rockets is of great significance to him, although he has difficulty getting more playing time in the team's winning mode. Whitmore also reflected on his performance during the Rockets and admitted that the reason for being "hidden" lies mainly in himself. He said that although he had the ability to improve his defensive level, he failed to meet the expectations of coach Uduka, so being placed on the bench was a reasonable and correct decision. He had no complaints about Uduka, but instead thanked the coach for the defensive philosophy he instilled in him.

Whitmore said: "Joining the Wizards is a great opportunity for me. I want to be a main player in my hometown team and leave my mark in the NBA. The Rockets selected me at the 20th pick, and I am very grateful. But the team is currently focusing on winning, and I have limited room for play. I understand Uduka's choice. I have not become a better defensive player in the past two years, and my defensive performance is not ideal. He made the decision that is most favorable to the team when adjusting the lineup, and I have no objection to this. At the Wizards, my goal is not to be a single player, but to become a player with both offense and defense."

Uduka, as a coach with a defensive philosophy as the core, has extremely high requirements for players' attitudes and team cooperation. This is why he prefers to use Shepard rather than Whitmore. Although Shepard is often targeted by his opponents on the defensive end, he never loses his position, has a selfless style of playing and pays attention to team cooperation. In contrast, Whitmore's style of play seems too arbitrary in some aspects, and teammates often find it difficult to pass the ball out after passing the ball, which limits the team's overall offensive fluency. Despite his excellent offensive efficiency, his attitude problems have made it difficult for him to gain trust at critical moments and even show negative emotions when he is unable to play.

However, the Wizards are not a team that will let Whitmore "swipe" at will. To gain a foothold in the NBA, he must first make achievements in defensive end and three-pointers. After all, Whitmore was considered one of the most powerful 3D forward players in the 2023 draft. He is only 21 years old, a month younger than Shepard, but has played in the league for two seasons. He is 2.01 meters tall and weighs 105 kg and has both ability to compete and excellent athletic talent. As long as he can work hard on the defensive end, improve the stability of the three-pointer, and gain a foothold as a 3D player, and gradually strengthen his ball-holding ability in the future, the prospects will be limitless. It is worth mentioning that Whitmore was considered a top five pick before the draft, but he eventually fell to the 20th pick due to personality issues and an inexplicable knee injury. The Rockets even hesitated in the draft whether to choose Whitmore or Amen Thompson with the 4th pick, which is enough to prove his talent. For the Rockets, the team is currently in a winning mode, and Uduka's tactical system emphasizes defense and team cooperation. Although Shepard has shortcomings in the defensive end, his attitude and selfless playing style are more in line with the team's needs. Whitmore's deal brings new opportunities to both him and the team. In the Wizards, Whitmore has the opportunity to prove himself in a more relaxed environment, while the Rockets are also moving towards higher goals under Durant's leadership. The choices of both parties may be correct. Time will give the answer to the future.