Scoot Henderson’s time in Portland has started to feel like a waiting game, and not the kind that ends with a long-term answer. The Trail Blazers now have a decision to make on the 22-year-old guard, who is eligible for an extension and could become a trade candidate at the deadline if the franchise decides to move in a different direction.
That possibility has gained traction because Henderson no longer looks like the centerpiece of the backcourt plan. Last season was supposed to be the turning point, the moment he locked down the job and forced Portland to build around him.
Instead, even with Shaedon Sharpe sidelined for at least six months with a torn meniscus, Henderson still faces an uphill climb to get anything more than an off-ball role. He remains behind Deni Avdija, Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, and Jrue Holiday as an offensive initiator.
Portland’s move to bring in Morant only adds to the sense that the team doesn’t fully trust its long-term answer at the position already on the roster. Henderson has made progress, but the fit and the role have become harder to define. At this point, parting ways may make sense for both sides.
If the Blazers do decide to shop him before February’s trade deadline, finding a market shouldn’t be the problem. A former No. 3 overall pick who is only 22 and still improving because of an elite work ethic will draw attention. The bigger question is why Portland hasn’t leaned into him more.
On the Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic pointed to four possible destinations: the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, and Detroit Pistons.
Dallas and Memphis were mentioned as clubs in need of a long-term lead guard. Portland already took a buy-low swing by hoping Morant would respond to a change of scenery, and Vecenie suggested Memphis could make a similar move for Henderson.
The appeal is straightforward: Henderson has not lived up to the expectations attached to his draft status, but the flashes are still there. He put together three straight strong playoff games against the San Antonio Spurs, a reminder that the upside is still worth betting on.
Golden State is another fit Vecenie likes because the Warriors are suddenly short on high-upside young talent. Stephen Curry is 38 years old, and while Steve Kerr may want him to be, Brandin Podziemski is not the obvious heir apparent. Henderson may not be that guy either, but a team in that spot can afford to take multiple swings and see which one sticks - much like Portland did this summer with the Morant deal.
Detroit also makes sense as a team that came out of the offseason still searching for a secondary creator next to Cade Cunningham. Henderson would be a clear upgrade over rookie Ebuka Okorie in that role.
The Pistons may have trouble staying atop a quickly improving Eastern Conference, which makes taking a chance on Henderson more reasonable. He would also fit alongside Cunningham because of his improved 3-and-D game.
That growth gives Henderson a path to being useful as a role player in Portland. The problem is that, unless he takes the leap elsewhere, that may be the ceiling for now.
If Henderson asks out or the Blazers decide he is no longer part of the young core, a split is becoming more and more likely. And with Portland needing to settle his contract situation soon, these are the backcourt-needy teams worth watching.
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Portlands challenge is less about Avdijas fit than the financial and roster math around him. The Blazers have to weigh how they build around their current core, and recent moves have only made the picture more crowded. If the front office keeps layering talent onto the roster instead of carving out flexibility, retaining Avdija could become a tougher task than it looked when he first emerged as part of the teams future. [Read more 🡒]
Damian Lillard Has A Real Case Fans Will Love Debating
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Micah Noris First Blazers Staff Reveals His Early Vision
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The staff picture also includes a couple of notable shifts behind the scenes as the Blazers continue lining up the next phase of the organization. Nate Bjorkgren is transitioning into a special assistant role, while James Brocato has come aboard to handle basketball innovation, adding another layer to the front-office and bench-side structure Nori is assembling as Portland maps out what this era will look like. [Read more 🡒]