Will The Miami Heat Regret Passing On Summer League MVP Cam Whitmore?

Cam Whitmore was selected by the Houston Rockets with the No. 20 pick, only two spots after the Miami Heat chose UCLA forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Jaquez played in two summer league games before being sidelined with a shoulder injury. He showed promise in his first game, scoring 22 points on 53.3 percent shooting from the field. Miami drafted Jaquez due to his NBA readiness at 22 years old in addition to his versatility at both forward positions.
Whitmore was expected to be drafted in the early lottery, with some mock drafts having him selected No. 4 overall.

Man I said it earlier and I meant it with every fiber of my being, if Cam Whitmore becomes as good as he's hyped up to be, Heat fans will never let this front office live it down https://t.co/SjzYP9umxy
— Wade's the GOAT you uncultured swine (@jdtwin393) July 17, 2023

However, he reportedly fell to No. 20 due to medical records. He did not disappoint in Summer League, averaging 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.5 steals over six games in Vegas. He helped the Rockets reach the Summer League Finals before losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Whitmore was awarded the Summer League MVP and selected to the All-Summer League first-team.

Cam Whitmore, #NBA2KSummerLeague MVP 😤

Check out some of the No. 20 overall pick's top plays from the @HoustonRockets time in Vegas 🎥 pic.twitter.com/06y5lw3RAw
— NBA (@NBA) July 18, 2023

However, Jaquez has not been given the opportunity to prove himself. After sustaining a shoulder injury after his second game, he was sidelined for the remainder of Summer League. Miami should not stress over the selection before he is given a chance to show his true potential.

There is a possibility Jaquez will never suit up for the Heat during the regular season. Miami is the frontrunner to trade for Portland Trailblazers All-Star Damian Lillard this summer. They may be forced to part ways with Jaquez and sophomore forward Nikola Jovic to acquire him.

Anthony Pasciolla is a contributor to Inside The Heat. He can be reached at anthonypasciolla36@gmail.com or follow him on Tik Tok @anthonysports_