Will Miami Heat Regret Passing Over Cam Whitmore Like Devin Booker In 2015?

The Miami Heat feel they got the player they were looking in Jaime Jaquez Jr., during Thursday's NBA draft.

As they should.

But these things always come with a "what if."

The Heat had a chance to choose Villanova forward Cam Whitmore, who was projected as a lottery pick before the draft. He slipped to the Houston Rockets at No. 20.

“I’ve been overlooked a lot of times in my life, so it didn’t really faze me. I’m just really happy to be in the NBA," Whitmore said. "I dreamed about that my whole life. I’m really grateful for my parents being there, friends, family — everybody’s here. Best day of my life, so this is really the start.”

He averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals his one season in college, becoming the first player to leave Villanova after his freshman year since Tim Thomas in 1997. Whitmore was also the MVP of 2022 FIBA Under-18 tournament before entering college.

Cam Whitmore on sliding to No. 20: “Different feeling. I’ve been overlooked a lot of times in my life but I’m just happy to be in the NBA.”
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) June 23, 2023

He missed the first seven games last season because of a thumb injury.

"He didn't have a continuous season because of injury, but when he's at his best, he can be a versatile defender," said ESPN's Jay Bilas, who called Whitmore an "absolute steal" during the draft broadcast.

Whitmore assured there are no injury concerns, which many believe caused him to drop.

“No, I promise you not,” Whitmore said. “I have no idea. I don’t know what happened, but I feel fine. It’s my body. If they think it’s something different, they have their own opinions, but it’s my body.”

For the Heat, it's somewhat reminiscent to when they felt they made the right pick with Justise Winslow at No. 10 in the 2015 draft. Three spots later, the Phoenix Suns took Devin Booker.

And we all know how that worked out.

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