Wizards hold the key to unlocking Cam Whitmore's true potential

"The Washington Wizards future rides on the development of the team's young core. Washington has taken several swings on potential over the last few years and up to this point, none of those swings have resulted in the team finding the cornerstone player they've been looking for. At least, not yet. However, Washington has yet to let discouraging results limit their rebuilding strategy and with general manager Will Dawkins continuously looking for ways to improve the roster."

"One player in specific that has plenty of optimism about his arrival in the DMV is Maryland native Cam Whitmore. Whitmore arrived in Washington earlier this offseason in what many view as the most lopsided trade over the last couple of months. The former first-round pick and lottery projected talent showed plenty of flashes during his tenure with the Houston Rockets, but with lack of playing time at his disposal and no room for the Rockets to allow the young forward to play through mistakes, the team opted to field calls for the talented wing."

"And while many people wonder why the Wizards feel like they'll be able to develop Whitmore into a key player for them, the Wizards confidence stems from what the team watched Brian Keefe do with Jordan Poole this last season. Following a benching during his first year in Washington, Poole was able to put together a career-year as a full-time starter for the Wizards and a main reason for his success was the confidence and encouragement that his head coach poured into him."

Washington's long-term success depends on developing its young core after multiple unsuccessful attempts to find a cornerstone player. General manager Will Dawkins maintains a rebuild-focused approach and pursued roster upgrades during a busy offseason. The Wizards acquired Maryland native Cam Whitmore from Houston in a trade viewed by many as lopsided, targeting untapped potential following limited minutes with the Rockets. The organization expects coaching to drive improvement, citing Brian Keefe's work with Jordan Poole, who recovered from a benching to deliver a career year as a full-time starter through increased confidence and encouragement.

Read at Wiz of Awes