Scoot Henderson’s rough start has turned him into one of the trickier decisions on Portland’s board, and the Trail Blazers may not want to wait until restricted free agency to sort it out. After passing on a rookie-scale extension, Portland now has a player whose value is harder to pin down, which is exactly why Joe Cronin could look to move before February’s deadline.
The idea here isn’t just to move on for the sake of moving on. It’s to get ahead of a possible RFA headache while the Blazers are off to a bright start and still trying to keep that momentum intact.
Henderson’s volatility makes him a tough investment, but his name still carries enough weight to bring back real help. And in the scenarios floating around, Portland would be targeting pieces that fit cleaner around the roster.
One path sends Henderson to the Clippers in a deal for Rui Hachimura. Los Angeles needs help after the league punished them over the Kawhi Leonard cap situation, and with Darius Garland and Keaton Wagler already in the backcourt, the Clippers would be looking for upside wherever they can find it. Henderson could give them a bench option who can handle both guard spots, especially with the off-ball role he’s taken on more often in Portland lately.
For the Blazers, Hachimura checks two boxes they still have room to improve: shooting and wing depth. He can’t be dealt until Dec. 15 because he’s restricted, so this one would take patience.
Derrick Jones Jr. is the quicker fix, but Hachimura may be the better fit because of his shooting, and Portland would also be avoiding the risk of getting only a half-season rental with Jones. Hachimura’s team option for next season makes him the cleaner long-term swing.
Another route pushes Henderson to New Orleans for Trey Murphy III, though that could mean dipping into some of the Milwaukee Bucks’ valuable future draft capital to get it done. Portland might also have to include Yang Hansen rather than Micah Potter or Branden Carlson to get the Pelicans’ attention, especially with New Orleans in need of a long-term center.
That deal would hinge on how much the Pelicans believe in Henderson and how willing they are to move a key piece like Murphy. New Orleans kept its asking price high last season, but this year may be forcing a harder look at where the team really stands in the Western Conference.
For Portland, Murphy is the kind of two-way wing who fits almost anywhere because he does so much without the ball. The downside is obvious: that same appeal could make him expensive.
If Murphy is too rich, Herb Jones offers a similar two-way profile at a lower cost, even if the offense takes a step down.
Phoenix is another possible landing spot, and this one would give the Suns the long-term point guard they’ve been missing. Their slow start has brought frustration, especially with the lack of a true floor general, and they’re also short on future draft picks.
Henderson could be the kind of swing they take if they want a potential answer at point guard, even if he hasn’t shown that in Portland. A move to Phoenix would give him more chances to initiate the offense.
In return, Portland would get Dillon Brooks, the kind of physical, defensive wing the roster could still use when the games get tighter. Jalen Green has been mentioned as a possible piece Phoenix would want to move for a point guard, but that would create a backcourt fit that looks worse than what Portland already has.
Brooks is restricted until Feb. 8, so he can still be moved before the deadline. Mat Ishbia has already taken a firm public stance on Brooks, but that could shift after a disappointing season and an uncertain future in Phoenix.
Then there’s the big-man option: Naz Reid. The earlier ideas all centered on wings, but Portland could also use Henderson as the centerpiece of a move for a stretch big to upgrade Micah Potter. Reid has already surfaced in trade rumors with the rebuilding Charlotte Hornets, and he would bring a different level of frontcourt versatility to the Blazers.
Reid can space the floor next to Donovan Clingan or Robert Williams III, and he can also play the five when Portland needs him to spell them. That’s the kind of flexibility the team had in mind when it signed Potter for depth, only Reid would take it much further.
Portland may need to attach a first-round pick because Henderson and Reid are trending in opposite directions right now, but the Blazers can afford that kind of price for a player with Reid’s skill set. It would also give head coach Micah Nori more options to work with across the frontcourt.
In Other News...
Blazers Trade Talk Around Scoot Just Got More Serious
Scoot Hendersons uneven start has only kept the conversation around Portlands backcourt moving, and now the speculation has widened into something more concrete. The idea floating around is a swap with Charlotte that would send Henderson one way and Naz Reid the other, a deal built around two players whose seasons have gone in very different directions so far.
For Portland, the appeal is easy to see: Hendersons talent is still part of the long-term picture, but the early returns have made every roster question feel bigger. Reids strong play has only sharpened the comparison, and while nothing official has been reported, the mere fact that this kind of trade is being discussed says plenty about where the Blazers are in sorting out their direction. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Suddenly Have A Depth Problem Joe Cronin Can't Ignore
The early-season injury pileup has left Portland searching for answers on the wing, and general manager Joe Cronin is already looking for help. With Vit Krejci sidelined by an ankle fracture, the Trail Blazers already thin rotation on the perimeter has gotten even harder to manage, forcing the front office to confront a problem that was easy to see coming but now feels urgent.
The roster has been stretched by injuries across the board, with the absences of players such as Krejci, Ja Morant, Shaedon Sharpe and Chris Youngblood exposing just how little margin Portland has at the position. Trade possibilities are already being weighed, including options with the Los Angeles Clippers, but the bigger issue is straightforward: the Blazers need another wing, and they need one before the lack of depth starts dictating how they can play. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Have One Chance To Silence Doubts In Sacramento
The early-season buzz around Portland has shifted quickly, and with an 8-3 start the Trail Blazers have gone from curiosity to a team people are starting to mention in the playoff conversation. Wins have helped change the tone around this group, and the mix of established talent and rising contributors has given the roster a more credible look than many expected this soon.
Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday have provided the kind of backbone that keeps Portland steady, while younger pieces like Toumani Camara and Sidy Cissoko have added to the sense that this start is not just a hot streak. Still, the Blazers know perception in the NBA can turn fast, and the trip to Sacramento offers a chance to keep building that case against a familiar Western Conference test. [Read more 🡒]