Blazers Draft: Prospect profiles, current fits, future outlooks for Scoot, Miller

The 2023 NBA Draft is just around the corner. Anticipation is rising, especially in Portland, as there’s a crucial decision to be made for the future in this year’s Blazers draft.

All eyes are on the Blazers as they weigh their options and consider the two consensus prospects in the mix: Scoot Henderson, the explosive guard from the G League Ignite, and Brandon Miller, the versatile wing from Alabama.

This article goes in-depth into the profiles of both players, analyzing their skill sets and how they would fit into the Blazers’ roster. It also examines the implications of selecting either Henderson or Miller.

Scoot Henderson NBA draft scouting report

At 19 years old, 6-foot-2 guard Scoot Henderson is a rising star with immense potential. In 19 games with the G League Ignite last season, Henderson averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 3.5 turnovers per game, showcasing his ability to contribute in multiple facets.

Scoot needs to improve his efficiency, as he had shooting splits of 43 percent from the field, 28 percent from beyond the arc, and 76 percent from the free-throw line.

However, he was impressive during the Showcase Cup, displaying his All-Star potential. In six games, Scoot averaged 21.2 points, 6.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 2.8 turnovers per game with impressive splits of 48/47/71.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has player comparisons to “shades of Russell Westbrook and Collin Sexton,” calling the dynamic guard a “great athlete who wants to bury his opponents with ferocious dunks, plus he has all the skills to lead an offense.”

Simply put, it’s evident that Henderson “has that dog in him.”

In addition to Westbrook and Sexton, some other guards his game is reminiscent of include Ja Morant and Derrick Rose. He has that fearless, downhill, attacking style of play. With his ability to drive and either finish at the rim or get teammates involved, it’s easy to see how Henderson will thrive in the NBA with the pace and floor spacing.

Defensively, Henderson’s agility and physical build allow him to be a pesky defender that should be impactful on that side of the ball, but one concern is that teams will exploit his 6-foot-2 size and try to get him switched onto bigs to take advantage of the mismatch.

Offensively, Scoot’s weaknesses are his shooting and proneness to turnovers. Twenty-eight percent shooting from three could make him a liability for shrinking the floor and inefficiency in general.

Scoot’s best trait is also one of his worst traits as someone who sometimes drives with reckless abandon. Similar to Westbrook, he’s a player you’ll have to live and die by, sometimes with careless turnovers or over-aggression.

Nonetheless, Scott has progressed in the G League, particularly as an improving shooter. Given his elite athleticism, it’s easy to see his All-Star potential if he can continue improving in these aspects.