Nuggets reportedly sign $15M freakishly athletic former first-rounder to revive dwindling career

The Denver Nuggets are trying to get back to the NBA Finals after winning it all a few years ago. The only problem is that the team has not been anywhere close to that level since they won it all.

This summer has been a daunting one for them, as they have not had any cap space to do much. In fact, it has been the worst financial position they have been in throughout franchise history.

“The Denver Nuggets were in a tough financial position before the offseason got underway, and by re-signing Spencer Jones to a two-year, $12 million deal, they slid into the second apron with a projected luxury tax penalty of $68 million, the highest in franchise history. However, this is all with two roster spots still to fill," SI's Logan Struck wrote.

They have only been able to make small signings. On Friday, the Nuggets decided to sign former first-round pick Cam Whitmore to a two-way deal.

“The Denver Nuggets are signing 2023 first-round pick Cam Whitmore on a two-way NBA deal, sources tell ESPN. Whitmore enters his fourth NBA season after averaging 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds over 119 career games -- and has already joined the Nuggets for workouts in Denver,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote.

Whitmore is young, but there is a real reason to believe his career is at stake if he has another bad season. He was recently waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived Cam Whitmore, league sources told hoopshype. Whitmore, the 20th pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, has averaged 10.5 points on 45% from the field and 35% from 3-point range in 17.3 minutes during three NBA seasons with the Rockets and Wizards,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto wrote.

Whitmore can score with the best of them; however, the defense is not all there for him. On a two-way deal, it is hard to know how much time he will get with Denver, but he has to make the most of it for the sake of his career.

Whitmore was on a $15 million rookie deal before being waived. The Nuggets have done all they can this summer, and getting a guy playing with his career on the line could be a very good move.

More NBA news: