Report: Nuggets linked to young scoring forward with upside

The Denver Nuggets roster is nearly full and the offseason is almost over but the front office apparently has one more target they’re looking at.

According to a report from Marc Stein, the Nuggets are a team to watch when it comes to free agent forward Cam Whitmore. Whitmore was recently waived-and-stretched by the Cavaliers after the team acquired him from the Wizards last month in the five-team deal that sent Peyton Watson to Cleveland.

Whitmore, who played just 21 games last season due to a blood clot in his shoulder, averaged 9.2 points and 2.8 rebounds for the Wizards. The 20th overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Villanova spent his first two years in Houston where he flashed athleticism coupled with serviceable shooting in a 6-foot-6 frame.

But he was in-and-out of the rotation as the Rockets ascended in their build and ultimately he was frustrated and pushed out to his disappointing year in D.C. The Nuggets had interest on his way out the door before he landed in the East.

The Nuggets have already acquired one former Wizard this summer, picking up Marvin Bagley III to be their big. Along with signing veteran scorer DeMar DeRozan, those have been the team’s biggest moves as they’ve had to rebuild their bench seeing nearly thier entire second unit walk in free agency or get traded.

The Nuggets do currently have 14 players on their roster, though many assume the team may keep it that way instead of filling out a 15th slot due to luxury tax penalties. A similar situation last year led ownership to choose to save money over acquiring a third-string center when Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas were hurt. Eventually, the team added Tyus Jones, who the Nuggets have brought back for 2026-27.

Jones is expected to compete for the backup point guard role with possibly Lonnie Walker IV, who signed a tryout deal with the Nuggets. If Walker is the 15th man, that leaves Whitmore on the outside looking in, though the Nuggets do have a two-way roster slot open to fill alongside third-string guard KJ Simpson and rookie Bryce Hopkins. Whitmore could slot in there and make the bench much more robust for a lot of bang and a little buck — sounds perfect for Denver.

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