No. 3: Cam Whitmore, Villanova
When it comes to the third overall pick in the draft, a question of value starts to come into play. With such a high draft pick in a top-heavy draft, it’s worth considering whether another team will pay a premium price to move up to take a player, a move that could really work out for Portland if they zero in on a less-heralded prospect.
If they really think they have their guy, however, staying at third and selecting that player is a less risky strategy. While most draft boards are a bit more all over the place on where Cam Whitmore belongs in the grand scheme of prospect rankings, most place him as a mid-lottery talent:
Cam Whitmore is growing on me by the hour...so much potential within this 18-year-old.
— Jack Kelly (@jack_kelly_313) May 18, 2023
Got a cool breakdown coming in the next 24hrs...in the meantime, enjoy his explosive bounce.
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/xWg5pGuqTu
He worked through an early injury at Villanova and was playing on the team during a down year, but even with these issues, Whitmore was able to shred rims with dunks, make smart cuts from the wing, and flash enough ball-handling upside that makes him a potential future All-Star.
Whitmore would have the ideal situation to start to develop into that type of player if drafted by Portland, as he would not be the focus of opposing defenses and would also get a chance to play off an elite point guard in Lillard.