7 Players Blazers should keep long-term after trading Damian Lillard

The obvious newcomers: Scoot Henderson and Kris Murray

With Lillard requesting a trade, the rumors of the Blazers trading Scoot Henderson for a star player quickly came to an end. This makes the Blazers retaining Henderson and fellow first-round pick Kris Murray following the departure of Lillard an obvious part of their plan. Both players are fresh draft picks, poised to bring new dynamism to the team.

Henderson was widely considered to be the second-best player in the 2023 NBA Draft. He was certainly the most explosive athlete in the draft. Alongside Sharpe, the Blazers could have the most athletic backcourt in the NBA long-term.

Scoot is solid offensively and his 6-foot-9 wingspan allows him to be a quality defender who will only get better. He averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while playing for the G League Ignite last season.

As for Murray, he has the potential to be the three-and-D wing the Blazers desperately need. He averaged 20.2 points and 7.9 rebounds in college at Iowa, and at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, adds much-needed size to the Blazers now and in the future.

Given their potential and the gap left by Lillard, the Blazers could leverage the talents of Henderson and Murray for many years to come. They could be foundational pieces in the team’s restructuring efforts, bringing new energy and skill to the court.