The Washington Wizards haven’t had much to get excited about in the last few years. They have been one of the worst organizations in the NBA, not having made the playoffs in five seasons. Because of that futility, the Wizards have had several high draft picks.
Not only has Washington accumulated a lot of lottery picks, but it has also traded for some younger players. One of those players is Cam Whitmore. They were able to acquire Whitmore from the Houston Rockets for just two second-round picks.
Whitmore has missed the last six games with a shoulder injury. Unfortunately, the Wizards have gotten some bad news on his availability for the next few weeks.
GettyWashington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore shoots the ball. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Wizards Forward Cam Whitmore Out Indefinitely
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Whitmore will be out for an indefinite period of time due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Initially, the team thought it was just shoulder soreness. Unfortunately, it has developed into a much bigger issue.
Surprisingly, Whitmore has been playing about the same number of minutes with the Wizards as he did last season with the Rockets. He has played in 21 games so far, but it’s unclear if he will be able to return this season. The Wizards are hoping to develop him into a solid contributor moving forward.
Whitmore slid in the NBA Draft despite a massive amount of talent because of some concerns with his coachability. The hope for him was that he was going to earn more playing time with a rebuilding team, which would allow him to flourish in a new environment.
Unfortunately for him, that’s not how things have turned out so far. The Wizards have the worst record in the NBA, and Whitmore still can’t find a way to play more than 20 minutes per game. Now, he has to fight back from a scary injury. Perhaps he can come back and turn it around.
GettyWashington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore celebrates. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The Wizards Will Likely Have a High Lottery Pick
With how bad the Wizards are again, it’s likely that they will have another high draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. This draft is very loaded at the top, so that could help Washington finally get out of the rut they have been in since John Wall’s injury issues started happening.
If the Wizards were still paying Bradley Beal, they would be in even more trouble. The good news is that they don’t have that massive contract and Beal’s injury history on their books. Adding a great talent in the draft is the best chance that they have of getting a superstar.
Washington has been trying this formula over the last few years, but it hasn’t worked out yet. Perhaps the next draft cycle is the one that finally gives them the ability to land someone who will change their fortunes. Whitmore is hoping he’ll be around to play with that new hopeful superstar next season.
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