When the complex trade was finalized last Friday, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they had not only received Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets, but also former first-round pick Cam Whitmore from the Washington Wizards.  

The 20th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft class, Whitmore started the first two years of his career with the Houston Rockets, then was traded to the Wizards in a three-team deal. He played only 21 games for Washington last year after his season was cut short in December 2025 due to a blood clot in his right shoulder.

Healthy following a recovery period from the frightening diagnosis, Whitmore is undoubtedly eager to get back on the floor. As a player, his skill set and raw power are intriguing, especially since he turned 22 in July.

Unfortunately for those in Cleveland who hope he'll stick around, the Cavs have not mentioned Whitmore aside from acknowledging his acquisition in a press release. Combine that with the fact that James Harden's new contract agreement has yet to be made official, and it does not appear that Whitmore is long for the organization.

In the latest episode of Courtside with Cavs, Spencer German and I analyzed the situation with Whitmore and the team, and what may come next for the fourth-year forward:

When I reached out, I was basically told they're working through it, so that doesn't sound great for Cam Whitmore's time here in Cleveland. would assume that he would get rerouted in a separate trade. The favorable rumor out there, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN, is that he'll get waived and stretched, that way Harden can make that full deal that's been reported and isn't official yet. That part, I think, is still up in the air.

If they were to flip Cam Whitmore and get somebody else, maybe on a veteran minimum salary or lower-end deal, I could see that. Maybe they go after another backup big. They did re-sign Thomas Bryant early, but they could still stand to use a little bit more in that room. If they don't, maybe they go after another wing or player that's got positional versatility. We'll see which direction this goes.

The reason that Whitmore is unlikely to be a part of Cleveland's plans is his $5.4 million salary that wouldn't allow for Harden to make the money required and stay under the first apron. 

We went into greater detail on the Whitmore scenarios alongside salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan on his show last week, as well as the Watson and Harden moves over the span of two days.