Denver Nuggets take low-risk, high-reward gamble on Cam Whitmore

Nuggets add Whitmore on a two-way deal

The Denver Nuggets have signed athletic forward Cam Whitmore to a two-way contract, according to reports by Shams Charania. Whitmore has already been in Denver for workouts as the team evaluates him ahead of the season.

This summer he was part of a multi-team shuffle — traded from Washington to Cleveland and then waived — leaving him free to find a new opportunity. The Nuggets opted to give the 2023 first-round pick a chance to compete without making a big financial commitment.

What Whitmore brings and what’s next

Whitmore was taken 20th overall in the 2023 draft after arriving with lottery buzz and clear upside. He’s flashed scoring ability and explosive athleticism but hasn’t yet secured regular minutes during stints with Houston and Washington.

Across his early career he’s averaged roughly 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 119 games, with last season’s limited run in Washington producing about 9.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. His 2023–24 campaign was interrupted by a diagnosis of upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, which sidelined him for a period.

For Denver the move is straightforward: a low-risk, potentially high-reward addition. The Nuggets are retooling around Nikola Jokic and have shuffled several roster pieces this offseason. New additions like Alpha Diallo, Lonnie Walker, Marvin Bagley and DeMar DeRozan join a team that saw players such as Peyton Watson, Jonas Valanciunas and Tim Hardaway Jr. move on.

Whitmore will need to show consistency, defensive engagement and health in training camp and the preseason to carve out a role. If he does, Denver could have picked up a useful rotational wing at minimal cost; if not, the two-way deal keeps the team flexible.