Nov 12, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Washington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore (1) dunks against against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Nov 12, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Washington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore (1) dunks against against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Cam Whitmore‘s journey in the NBA has taken another turn. Just days after arriving in Cleveland in the massive multi-team trade for Peyton Watson, reports indicate the Cavaliers are considering waiving and stretching Whitmore’s contract.
The 22-year-old was acquired from Washington in the deal, but Cleveland’s win-now roster may simply not have a place, or the cap space, for a young player who is still raw.
Whitmore is still just 22 years old and was one of the most intriguing young scorers in basketball not long ago. He averaged 9.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 45.6% FG, 28.6% 3-PT FG, and 74.2% FT in 21 games with Washington last season and owns career averages of 10.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 0.3 BPG in only 17.3 MPG of action.
The Lakers have already been mentioned as a potential landing spot, and understandably so. A young wing who can create his own offense is a low-risk gamble that Los Angeles should investigate. But if Whitmore actually hits the open market, three other destinations might make even more sense.
3. Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets should be all over Cam Whitmore if he becomes available. Sometimes rebuilding teams overthink things. The Nets need a young player who needs playing time to show what he can do and start maximizing his potential.
Last season, the Nets ranked 30th in offense (105.9 PPG with a 108.7 offensive rating) and 25th in pace (97.1). Clearly, they need offensive help since they have nobody outside of Michael Porter Jr (24.2 PPG) who can do a great job as a guard or swingman.
At 6’7″ and built like an NFL linebacker, Whitmore can be a very effective scoring wing. His biggest problem has been finding the right situation, consistent minutes, and a coaching staff willing to live with the occasional questionable shot or defensive mistake while helping him grow through it.
Brooklyn could offer exactly that. The Nets have every reason to take swings on young players with upside rather than filling their roster with veterans who might raise their floor by three wins but do absolutely nothing for their long-term future.
Whitmore is still young enough (22) that a breakout is entirely possible, and Brooklyn could give him something he hasn’t consistently received since entering the league: an opportunity.
There is also something appealing about putting Whitmore in a market where he can develop without immediately being asked to save a franchise. Let him earn 25 minutes a night and make mistakes.
If the Nets can unlock his defensive engagement and improve his decision-making, they could end up with one of the better comeback stories in the NBA.
2. Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte might be the most fun basketball fit of the three. The Hornets have been aggressively reshaping their roster, moving LaMelo Ball and building around Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller while adding established players like Naz Reid around them.
Their projected group has plenty of offensive talent, but there is always room for another young wing who can attack the basket and put pressure on a defense. The Hornets ranked 13th in scoring last season (116.0 PPG) and 5th in offensive rating (119.4), but that was with Ball pulling the strings.
The team might need someone to hold the fort down with the cornerstone no longer on the team.
Whitmore wouldn’t have to walk into Charlotte and become the No. 1 or No. 2 option. In fact, that’s exactly why the situation could work. He could be a very capable 6th or 7th man to fill it up and try to help replace Ball’s scoring. Cam has appeared in 114 out of 119 games coming off the bench so far in his career.
And here’s the thing: Whitmore could bring something different to Charlotte’s wing rotation. He can be a battering ram at the basket, and that could diversify the Hornets’ offense considerably.
The Hornets also don’t need to pretend he is a finished product. At 22, the goal should be development. If Whitmore accepts a role and learns to make quicker decisions with the ball, Charlotte could find itself with a legitimate rotation player for essentially nothing.
1. Miami Heat
This is our favorite destination, and honestly, it isn’t close.
The Miami Heat have made a living out of finding players with something to prove and asking one simple question: How good are you willing to become? Whitmore has the athleticism, and nobody disputes that.
But can he play winning basketball? There may not be a better organization for that challenge than Miami.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo leading the charge inside, the Heat need more ball-handlers and scorers who can do damage on the perimeter. The Heat signed Klay Thompson to provide that, but why not add more bench pieces?
Whitmore has shown that he can score, but he has sometimes looked like a player trying to prove he belongs every time he touches the basketball. Miami could slow the game down for him mentally. Learn the ropes from Giannis and Bam, and excel in your role.
That’s a huge difference.
Whitmore is still only 22. If Cleveland does waive him, the next team won’t be acquiring a washed-up veteran hoping for one last chance. Miami could give him an identity, and for Cam Whitmore, that might be worth more than anything right now.
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