Answer to Trail Blazers' glaring starting lineup dilemma couldn't be clearer

Scoot Henderson has looked much better early on in his second season with the Portland Trail Blazers. His three-point shot isn't falling, as he is still shooting under 30 percent in that department, but the Blazers knew that his shot was going to be a work in progress. His strength, and the reason they selected him No. 3 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, lies in his ability to utilize his combination of ballhandling and athleticism to attack downhill.

The main issue with his rookie season was that his finishing ability was lacking. That already looks much improved to start 2024-25. Through five games, his efficiency from the field has increased from 38.5 percent as a rookie to 44.1 percent. One could make the case that, because Scoot is looking so comfortable this season, to keep him in this role as a sixth-man sparkplug. But Henderson needs to go through growing pains to further his development. He needs to start.

Scoot Henderson deserves a starting spot

Although the Blazers are off to a relatively promising 2-3 start to the season, they aren't legitimate playoff contenders quite yet. By all accounts, the goals for this season should be player development and roster continuity. They'll achieve both by promoting Henderson into the starting lineup.

If the Blazers are truly going to build around Scoot—and they should, given his strong start to the season—they need to see what combinations work and who can effectively play alongside him. However, in order for Scoot to start, someone must be delegated to a bench role or traded.

 It’s time for Blazers to trade Jerami Grant

It would be in the Blazers' best interest to move Grant soon; they are prolonging the inevitable by keeping him around, which is hindering their rebuild. Portland's starting lineup is already a conundrum, and that's not even accounting for Shaedon Sharpe. He was injured on October 5 and given a four to six-week recovery timeline, which would be between November 2-16.

The Blazers shouldn't be considered in the conversation for being the worst team in the NBA, especially with veterans like Grant on their roster. By trading away arguably their best player, they can stop straddling the confusing line between rebuilding and keeping veterans around; this will help them bottom out to increase their chances of landing a top pick in 2025. It will also open up a starting role and overall minutes for up-and-coming players.

By trading Grant, Chauncey Billups could elect to roll with a starting lineup of:

• PG: Scoot Henderson

• SG: Anfernee Simons

• SF: Deni Avdija

• PF: Toumani Camara

• C: Deandre Ayton

But in this scenario, it's essential that Scoot is the lead point guard. Too often, when Henderson and Simons are both in, Simons is initiating the offense while Scoot stands around as a floor spacer. Those roles should be reversed to play to each player's strengths and help Henderson develop.

After Sharpe returns, Billups could have the option to roll with this starting lineup or swap in Sharpe for someone. Camara and Avdija have both been impactful as two-way players, so it's going to be difficult enough to know what to do when all their players are healthy, even with Grant out of the equation. But these five starters, as well as Sharpe, are all young enough to at least potentially be considered part of the rebuilding timeline.

The Blazers' goal this season is to gain more roster clarity. To achieve this, they need to start moving players who clearly don't fit their rebuild in order to narrow down the pieces of a puzzle that has become too complex.