The Portland Blazers' decision to select Scoot Henderson as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft seemed obvious at the time. The expert consensus was that, after the generational talent Victor Wembanyama was off the board, Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson were in their own secondary tier as 2a and 2b options. Some even made the case for Henderson to be selected over Miller.
However, now in their second season, it's become clear that not only was Miller the right choice ahead of Henderson, but there were a few other players who went in the lottery that the Blazers should have considered at that No. 3 spot.
Henderson has shown some flashes of his All-Star-level upside, but those have been few and far between. For the most part, his first one-and-a-half seasons in the NBA have been largely disappointing. This year, Henderson is averaging 10.9 points, 5.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. His decision-making (2.7 turnovers), inefficiencies (40/30/76.8 shooting splits), and defensive lapses are all areas he has yet to improve.
There's still plenty of time for Scoot to turn things around. He's just 20 years old, and the point guard position is typically the most challenging spot for players entering the league to figure out. But it's becoming increasingly apparent that Portland should have considered other options with their pick, especially as Henderson doesn't show significant progress while other players have already emerged as key contributors on contending teams.
1. Amen Thompson
Amen Thompson would have gone No. 3 overall in a 2023 re-draft and is slowly inching closer to making a strong case for the Charlotte Hornets to even select him ahead of Brandon Miller at No. 2 overall. We're not quite there yet, but it's clear Portland should have taken the Rockets' guard ahead of Henderson.
His length and elite athleticism allowed Thompson to make an immediate impact on the defensive end since entering the league. He's good enough to make multiple NBA All-Defensive Team appearances throughout his career.
Offensively, Thompson's shot is still a work in progress, but he's shown improvement, going from 13.8 percent from three as a rookie to 24.4 this season. Usually, that type of shooting is a major red flag for a prospect to be selected in the top three. But Thompson is an exception, as his unique skill set allows him to contribute in other areas with his intangibles and well-rounded game.
2. Cason Wallace
The Oklahoma City Thunder hit on a draft pick -- what's new? Kentucky guard Cason Wallace was the No. 10 overall selection, a pick that originally belonged to the Dallas Mavericks. The Thunder traded up two spots to secure Wallace, which worked out for both teams as Dallas still got their guy in Dereck Lively II.
Just in his second season, Wallace has already emerged as an impactful player for a Thunder team that has the best record in the Western Conference at 31-6. The fact that he's still able to average 27.2 minutes on a loaded roster is a testament to his impact as a two-way player.
Wallace is already a lockdown on-ball defender, averaging 1.7 steals this season. He's also a great complementary piece on offense. He's an efficient shooter at 47/39/79 shooting splits and a great decision-maker who rarely turns the ball over. Wallace's defensive impact and floor spacing ability would have helped address two of Portland's most glaring roster weaknesses, which are also two areas Henderson lacks.
3. Dereck Lively II
This was a rare trade where both teams came out as winners. The Mavericks got their 7-foot-1 big man, who is an elite lob threat and solid rim protector. He's also an underrated passer for the center position. This season, Lively is averaging 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 blocks, shooting an efficient 69.9 percent from the field.
Center isn't a position of need for Portland, but they just selected Donovan Clingan as No. 7 overall this past summer because he was the best available prospect. That would have been the case here with Lively as well.
Although his offensive limitations may cap his All-Star upside, Lively is a quality long-term starting for Dallas. His ability to impact winning as a role player would have made him a seamless fit on any team that selected him, including Portland.