Cam

Whitmore

Days after NBA insider Marc Stein called Denver a “team to watch” on Whitmore, the former first-round pick has officially agreed to a two-way deal. A blood clot in his shoulder limited Whitmore to 21 appearances for the Wizards last season, and he has not played 60 games in any of his three NBA seasons. His rookie season was Whitmore’s most productive, as he averaged 12.3 points per game with the Rockets. The move to Denver won’t affect redraft leagues, but Whitmore could remain in play in dynasty leagues if he can turn the two-way deal into something more.

Whitmore, limited to 21 games last season because of deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, was waived by the Cavaliers in August after the team acquired him in the Peyton Watson trade. Interestingly, Watson’s former team is reportedly considering the free-agent forward as training camp approaches. Whitmore has yet to carve out a consistent role in the NBA, but the former first-round pick could be worth a roll of the dice for a Nuggets team that can use added wing depth. While unlikely to be much of a factor in redraft leagues, landing a roster spot would clearly preserve what little value Whitmore has in dynasty leagues.

This was rumored after he was sent to Cleveland as part of the Peyton Watson trade, and now it’s official. The 2023 first-round pick will be looking for a new home after suiting up in 21 games for the Wizards last season prior to suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in December.

Whitmore was dealt to Cleveland as part of the Peyton Watson trade, but it doesn’t seem like the Cavs are interested in keeping him around. Stretching his $5.4 million contract over a few seasons will give them more flexibility to build out this team with players that are more ready to help win now. It isn’t official yet, but it seems likely that Whitmore won’t be playing in Cleveland next season.

Whitmore was added in to facilitate the Peyton Watson trade, and he’ll end up as a young depth piece in Cleveland. However, there are likely too many players in front of him on the depth chart on a team that is trying to compete in the East for him to get much of an opportunity next season.

Mann was sent to Cleveland from Charlotte as part of the Dennis Schroder trade last week, but he’ll end up back in the Southeast division. Mann has shown flashes and could compete with Bub Carrington for the backup point guard job behind Trae Young, but with the compensation that was required for the Wizards to acquire him, it is unlikely they have big plans for him.

Diagnosed with deep-vein thrombosis just before Christmas, Whitmore has begun the recovery process and will not play again this season. While his absence won’t affect fantasy basketball, it does ensure some of Washington’s younger wings will have more opportunities later in the season.

Whitmore has not played consistent rotation minutes for the Wizards this season, but he’s been active for the last few games with a shoulder injury. Unfortunately, he has been diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder and is out indefinitely. Victor Wembanyama dealt with a similar injury last season, and the Spurs declared him out for the rest of the year after the All-Star break.

Middleton took the court on Saturday, but he’ll sit out for the second leg of Washington’s back-to-back set. With Coulibaly and Whitmore also sidelined, the Wizards will be shorthanded at forward, which may mean an expanded role for Justin Champagnie. Alex Sarr has been ruled out, and Marvin Bagley III is questionable, so Tre Johnson and Will Riley could be called on more off the bench.

Whitmore will not be available for Saturday’s game, but his absence does not affect fantasy basketball. He has not been in the Wizards’ rotation in recent games.