Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller – Part 2 G-League Guard
The Catch
The Portland Trail Blazers face a conundrum. Scoot is so much better than the next prospects in the draft it would be foolish to pass on him.
They can’t draft for need with the third pick. The fact the Blazers picking third says they have too many needs to fill.
Portland needs to accumulate talent. There will be nobody more talented than Henderson available at 3 and it’s not close. So what does GM Joe Cronin do if he keeps the pick?
First up is wishing. He has to hope that somehow Scoot goes 2nd. New Orleans loves him and is offering Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram in trade talks.
Rumor has it that Charlotte likes Ingram. If those teams make a deal, Portland takes Miller, and everyone is happy.
The next thing is Charolette takes Miller, and the Portland Trail Blazers make a deal with New Orleans. Ingram’s salary might make it tough unless they involve a third team or Jerami Grant is open to a sign and trade (New Orleans would need him to fill Ingram’s spot in their lineup).
It would be a win now move to placate Dame, and by getting New Orleans first round pick in the deal (14), Portland would still have a pair of first rounders to add depth.
The third option would be to move Dame and build around Scoot, Sharpe, and their other young players. While this is my preferred route, all indications are the Portland Trail Blazers have no interest in trading Dame. So where does that leave us?
Worst Case
With Miller gone and no acceptable trade, the Portland Trail Blazers draft Scoot Henderson, head coach Chauncey Billups can’t figure out how to play everyone, and the team implodes. Eventually, Cronin trades Dame for 60 cents on the dollar because he waited too long, and Rip City goes back to the drawing board.
What do you think about the Portland Trail Blazers selecting Scoot Henderson in this year’s NBA Draft?