Dude, remember Cam Whitmore, that explosive former first-round pick from the 2023 NBA Draft? The Cleveland Cavaliers cut him loose to make room for James Harden, and now there’s serious buzz the Los Angeles Lakers could be eyeing him for a wild comeback shot. This kid was on a $15 million rookie contract, and now he’s looking for a landing spot, desperately hoping to find the right team in the right situation. Talk about a roller coaster for a young player!
From The Lottery Bubble To The Waiver Wire
Whitmore’s journey has been a whirlwind, filled with high expectations and sudden shifts. He was the 20th pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, a talent everyone watched closely. In three NBA seasons with the Rockets and Wizards, he put up some decent numbers: averaging 10.5 points on 45% from the field and 35% from 3-point range in 17.3 minutes. Pretty solid production for a guy still finding his footing, right? But the league is tough. He was on the roster bubble with the Washington Wizards before getting traded to the Cavaliers. Then Cleveland decided to waive him entirely to make space. Imagine being traded, then swiftly cut, all to clear a path for another superstar like Harden. That’s gotta sting, and it leaves a player like Whitmore simply searching for an opportunity to play for the right team now, a real fit.
The Lakers’ Bold Play For A Bounce-Back
Fadeaway World’s Fran Leiva makes a compelling case: the Los Angeles Lakers could be exactly what Whitmore needs. This is where it gets really intriguing for the Lakers. They already have a lot of guaranteed players on their roster, meaning they’d definitely need to open up a spot first. But Leiva argues they need to make a move anyway, and using that open spot on a young, high-upside talent like Whitmore makes way more sense than bringing in yet another veteran. The beauty here is, they don’t even need him to come in and be a starter. Just give him 15 or 20 minutes a game, let him compete hard with guys like Knecht, Ziaire Williams, and Thiero for those bench wing minutes, and see what develops.
Here’s the kicker: Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer pointed out that Whitmore is still eligible for a two-way contract. Given his current situation, with limited guaranteed roster spots available across the league, Whitmore might have to seriously consider a two-way deal to get back on the court. For the Lakers, this becomes a killer low-risk, high-upside pickup. Getting this kid on a two-way contract could allow him to prove he can be an effective volume shooter in a specific, valuable role alongside stars like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Whitmore knows his opportunities are getting limited, and the chance to sign with a powerhouse team like the Lakers, even on a two-way, could absolutely get his career moving in the right direction. This is a massive chance for a guy who simply wants to play and prove what he can do, and if the Lakers are smart enough to give him that shot, it could be a savvy move that pays off huge.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply