The Blazers like athletes. Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, the Matisse Thybulle trade — Portland’s general philosophy is to invest in the physical tools and hope the skill level catches up eventually. So far the investments in Simons and Sharpe are going well, so there’s no reason to break the mold now.
Cam Whitmore is probably the best prospect left on the board here, for good measure. There’s reason to believe in his star-level upside precisely because of his athleticism. There are several top-shelf athletes at the top of the draft this year, but normally there would be more buzz around what Whitmore is able to accomplish acrobatically.
His production fluctuated at Villanova. He certainly wasn’t the most consistent lottery prospect. But at 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, Whitmore can simply fly. His elite first step, quick-twitch athleticism, and remarkable aerial finishes at the rim should have Portland convinced. He handles the ball fluidly in traffic and is difficult to stop once he’s rumbling toward the rim. If he can get more comfortable creating his own shot, he has a path to All-Star productivity.
Whitmore is also an elite defensive prospect for many of the same reasons. He can make plays in passing lanes or around the rim with his length and explosiveness. Meanwhile, he figures to develop into a legitimate wing-stopper if he commits to it. He needs to get more consistent from 3 and he will have to actualize the more theoretical aspects of his projected skill set, but Whitmore has every tool for NBA success.
Check out our full scouting report on Cam Whitmore here.