The Washington Wizards latest update on the recovery of forward Cam Whitmore is that the former first-round pick will miss the remainder of the regular season as he continues to recover from a blood clot that initially sidelined him indefinitely.
As a result, Washington quickly applied for a Disabled Player Exception hoping for the chance to be granted a DPE in efforts to bring in another player to not only fill Whitmore role, but give the team the chance to scout additional talent up close and personal.
Obviously, with the Wizards looking to secure a top-8 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Washingtonw won't be looking to bring in a win-now player.
Instead, the Wizards would likely elect to use the DPE on a high-upside prospect that could potentially be on their radar for next season given the team's hope that Trae Young's arrival could lead to a playoff push.
That said, here's a look at three players that Washington could look to take a swing on if they're granted a Disabled Player Exception.
G Talen Horton-Tucker
Talen Horton-Tucker currently finds himself out of the league after bouncing around the NBA over the last few seasons.
The former second-round pick began his year with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he originally seemed like a future glue player that would stick around the league for quite awhile.
At 6-foot-4, the Iowa State product has proven to be a capable scorer throughout his start to his career, averaging 9.2 points on 42.7% shooting from the field.
Still only 25, Horton-Tucker has the upside to be a future role player in the right situation, which is exactly why the Wizards could take a swing on the guard's upside.
F/C Bol Bol
Bol Bol is a prospect that I personally have been hoping the Wizards would take a swing on.
In fact, it's suprising that no other team has taken a swing on the 7-footer's upside considering the unique skillset he offers both offensively and defensive.
The Oregon product was initially projected to be a first-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but a pre-draft foot injury caused him to slide to the second-round. Despite that, it's clear that the son of NBA legend Manute Bol has the versatility that makes him an extremely intriguing prospect.
If Washington is in the market for a real swing on potential, Bol Bol could be that guy.
F Kai Jones
Kai Jones is former first-round pick that has failed to live up to his pre-draft expectations.
As one of the biggest risers in the 2021 NBA Draft class, Jones' off the court issues led to him bouncing around the league and eventually falling short of his potential.
Regardles, considering that both the LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks have taken swings on him since his failed stint with the Charlotte Hornets, it's clear that Jones' has high-upside.
Perhaps a reset in another situation on a team who has the ability to offer developmental minutes would be the key for a potential breakout.