The Los Angeles Lakers faced challenges during the 2023 NBA Draft, where they selected Jalen Hood-Schifino with the 17th overall pick. This choice has since been regarded as little more than a placeholder given the team’s future plans, including a potential acquisition of Luka Doncic in 2025.
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The draft was particularly notable for the players who followed Hood-Schifino. Jaime Jaquez Jr. was taken by the Miami Heat at 18, contributing effectively for the team. The Golden State Warriors chose Brandin Podziemski at 19, who has made 104 starts over three seasons. Cam Whitmore was drafted 20th, a player many analysts believed deserved a lottery selection.
Whitmore's journey has been tumultuous; he was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this offseason after his acquisition via a sign-and-trade deal. Despite potential, the Lakers opted not to pursue Whitmore after his release, handing that opportunity to the Denver Nuggets, who signed him to a two-way deal, as reported by Shams Charania.
Looking back at the 2023 draft, analysts expressed surprise at Whitmore's slide down to the 20th pick. By 2026, after two seasons with the Houston Rockets and a subsequent trade to the Washington Wizards, his performance had not lived up to expectations. With the Wizards, he averaged 9.2 points per game with shooting percentages of 46% from the field, 29% from three-point range, and 74% from the free-throw line.
For the Nuggets, signing the 22-year-old represents a calculated risk in an otherwise disappointing offseason. If Whitmore fails to thrive alongside Nikola Jokic, it could hinder his career trajectory. The Lakers' enduring regret over their Hood-Schifino choice raises questions about letting Whitmore slip through their fingers yet again, especially when they could have adjusted their roster to accommodate him.