It's rare for a team to win 33 games in a two-year span and feel positively about its future. That fate is typically reserved for franchises that landed the No. 1 overall pick in a star-studded NBA Draft—a luxury the Washington Wizards haven't come by since 2010.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, the Wizards are on their way to setting a new standard for how to rebuild when it seems there's no way to do so—and Cam Whitmore is a big reason why.
Washington acquired Whitmore in a trade that saw the franchise part ways with Jordan Poole after two polarizing seasons. With a need to replace their most productive scorer, the Wizards entrusted a significant level of responsibility to a 21-year-old player who has a career average of 17.4 minutes per game.
It's a risky move, albeit while factoring in the presence of veterans such as C.J. McCollum and Khris Middleton, as well as first-round draft pick Tre Johnson, but there's reason to believe it'll pay off.
Whitmore is a case study in the importance of having the opportunity to learn by fire. He's been forced to scratch and claw for every minute he's played in the NBA, due less to his abilities than the simple fact that the Houston Rockets boast one of the deepest rosters in the Association.
With Poole out and veteran teammates who could be traded at some point before or during the 2025-26 season, the door is finally wide open for Whitmore to receive what Houston never gave him: Consistent playing time.
Cam Whitmore can finally play consistent minutes with the Wizards
Through two NBA seasons, Whitmore boasts career averages of 10.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.5 three-point field goals made per game. He's posted those numbers on .449/.357/.707 shooting, including a 7.1-percent improvement at the charity stripe in 2024-25.
Those number may not jump off the page, but they reach a new tier when translated to 22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 3.0 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
A 6'7" and 230-pound wing with a 6'8.5" wingspan and the ability to score at all three levels, Whitmore has been knocking on the door of a profound breakout for two consecutive seasons. Even with limited playing time, he scored at a borderline star-caliber level and showcased the ability to play both on and away from the ball.
That includes the fact that he buried 38.1 percent of his pull-up threes in 2024-25 and that he knocked down 42.8 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes in 2023-24.
Consistency as a shooter will be essential, but the same can be said about Whitmore's playing time. His skill set is nothing short of captivating, as he looks the part of the modern forward with his ability to bury jump shots and get into the paint.
Compounded by his value in transition, which includes the ability to play the angles and finish above the rim, Whitmore could be in store for a massive scoring campaign.
Furthermore, Middleton, an NBA champion and three-time All-Star, could prove to be the perfect mentor to Whitmore. They have similar scoring skill sets, and Middleton has proven to know what it takes to excel on both ends of the floor in the postseason.
With an uptick in playing time, less pressure to be perfect, and an ideal veteran to help him refine his skill set, Whitmore can finally excel in a way the Rockets never enabled him to.