Scoot Henderson, G-League Ignite.
With the NBA Draft later this week, the Portland Trail Blazers pick is at the mercy of Charlotte. Owning the third pick in a three-prospect draft, Portland is guaranteed a shot at a future star, just maybe not the one they need.
French phenom Victor Wembanyama is a given to go first overall to San Antonio. The other two in the triumvirate are Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson.
Which one is a better fit for the Portland Trail Blazers, and who is more likely to end up in Rip City? In part 1, we highlighted Miller.
The other potential star who might, probably even likely, be available with the third pick is Scoot Henderson. He’s an exciting prospect who just happens to be everything Portland already has and provides little of what they need.
If Miller is gone, the young guard just may be too good to pass up. Henderson has spent the last two seasons in the G-league and was clearly trying to not get injured last year.
His first season was tremendous, though, and his talent is undeniable. The comps in many scouting reports are Russell Westbrook and Colin Sexton, but both of them are bigger than Scoot. I see shades of a smaller, ball-dominant point guard… Allen Iverson.
Scoot is at his best with the ball in his hands, driving to the rim. He can dunk over anyone and is strong enough to finish through contact despite his smaller frame.
To top it off, Henderson can finish with either hand and has shown an array of floaters and flips he can finish with if he doesn’t make it to the rim. His athleticism allows him to blow by defenders and collapse the defense as well.
He’s also shown the ability to make the right pass to open shooters when the defense does rotate to him. He has good vision and anticipation and can hit cutters for easy baskets, or kick out to shooters.
Other strengths to his game are a natural feel for pick and rolls, and a Murray-esque ability to pop open in the two-man game. Eventually, Scoot will be able to both score or run an offense for others.
His shooting mechanics have improved, and his shot is much smoother than it was a year ago. Utilizing an uncanny work ethic, Henderson put in the time and work to try and fix what was a broken jumper.
His decision-making improved as time wore on, as did his shot selection. He didn’t play enough this year, though, to feel confident that either facet of his game is totally NBA-ready.
Shot selection remains one of his biggest question marks. Henderson took a ton of contested mid-range 2’s last year and barely made 30% of them. His three-point shooting was also atrocious, and even with his new mechanics, the wasn’t much overall improvement.
It’s possible Scoot didn’t see enough game action for it to translate, but teams are going to be concerned with his shot. He can be too loose with the ball and occasionally makes sloppy turnovers. Usually, it happens when he leaves his feet in the lane without a plan, or when he gets tunnel vision and weak side defenders jump his passing lanes.
His jump drives are the bigger issue, and most times Henderson would be better off trying to initiate contact than trying to pass through defenders. There’s some shades of Ja Morant in his reckless drives to the paint.
Defensively Henderson is a mixed bag. He’s small and easy to bully when he’s defending on the ball. He needs to improve his footwork and strength, or bigger guards will go right through him at the next level unless he improves his footwork and adds some muscle. Also, because Henderson is 6-2 teams will always try to switch bigger wings on him for an advantage, so his team will need to adjust accordingly.
It’s not all bad. He’s an energetic defender and can disrupt when he’s off the ball. Weak-side steals tipped passes, and kicked balls are all part of his repertoire. He’s even shown the ability to block shots from behind when he’s beaten because of his speed and leaping ability. He’ll never be a DPOY candidate, but he can be useful in the right scheme.
Scheme is important and bring s the conversation to his fit with the Portland Trail Blazers, and therein lies the problem. Portland already has Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe.
Sharpe can slide up to the wing, but the other three are all too small. There likely won’t be enough minutes for everyone.
Also does Dame want to watch Scoot dribble for 10 seconds and then launch a bad mid-range jumper ten times a night while he develops? Lillard and Scoot can’t play at the same time for any real minutes. Their size, defensive shortcomings, and need to have the ball would be a disaster.
Simons can play off of either, and his shooting would help give Scoot space to work. Unfortunately, the Portland Trail Blazers would still be an undersized defensive mess with Simons and either Dame or Scoot.
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?
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?