Washington Wizards forward Cam Whitmore has been out with an upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder since early December, playing his last game on 4th. Now, the Wizards have confirmed he will be out for the remainder of the season. He is starting his recovery process from a diagnosed venous condition. However, Washington has already begun moving forward, with their next steps laid out.
Wizards Forward Out For Season, Team Plans Moving Ahead
With the third-year pro out for the year, it’s safe to say his Washington tenure has not gone according to plan. From poor practice habits that led to multiple DNPs to spurts of lackluster performances, Whitmore’s first season in D.C was unimpressive to say the least.
Whitmore, across 21 outings, averaged 9.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in just under 17 minutes per contest.
Washington’s Clear Stance On Forward
For some time, it was believed that Washington could be looking for a way out of their experiment with the forward. He slid out of the rotation and quickly saw the DNPs stacking up. However, according to TheConsensusNBA, Washington doesn’t plan on waiving him.
It’s not too surprising to hear this news. Whitmore is young and fits their rebuild timeline well. He’s athletic, and while unproven, has shown flashes of his true potential with the team. Trade rumors aside, he will be sticking around in the DMV for a little longer.
Wizards’ Plans Moving Forward
Washington has already made some moves, looking to build some positivity from the situation. According to Michael Scotto, the Wizards have applied for a Disabled Player Exception (DPE). That will clear the way for the team to sign a player to a contract for the rest of the season. If approved, Washington will be granted a $1.7 million exception, half of Whitmore’s contract.
Even with their roster filled, the DPE will allow Washington to house the additional player for this season. This will give the player of their choosing a free “tryout” without having to sacrifice a young talent like Whitmore.
Additionally, Washington still has their Mid-Level Exception (MLE), which could land a talent of significance from the free agency. Comparing the MLE to the DPE, the money difference is huge, $14.1 million compared to the mentioned $1.7 million.
Who Is Available?
Taking a look at the current free agents, there is a vast talent pool looking for an opportunity like this. Washington will bring in a young talent, giving them a chance to build a potential role in the future. It’s an end-of-season contract, but the Wizards could decide to re-sign them next year. So, who could fans see representing the Wizards in Whitmore’s place?
Here are just a few names to ponder. Cam Reddish, the 26-year-old defender, is currently in the market. He could help shape up their defensive issues amid some injuries. Bol Bol could finally find his potential playing with the young core.
Jumping to the minors, Jonathan Pierre and Akoldah Gak both joined Washington for training camp before being cut and moving to the Capital City Go-Go. Skal Labissière has been tearing it up with the Go-Go; he could easily replace Whitmore until the end of the season.
Whatever route they decide to go with, the player would need to produce quickly and in bunches to get a long-term run with the team.
The Last Word
Unfortunately, Cam Whitmore’s season with the Washington Wizards has come to a rather unfortunate end. However, spinning the situation, an unproven player could emerge from the rubble. Washington has so many routes to take in free agency, it’s hard to predict. Who knows, Washington could easily decide instead to bring in a veteran leader to help guide the young prospects instead of fresh legs. Whoever they decide to take will need to make an impact in the next two months if they want to stick around in the NBA.
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